The Mobile Police Department released the city’s 2023 annual crime statistics report. A city recognized at one time by Forbes as the second most dangerous in the country, Mobile showed an overall reduction of crime across several key categories.
According to the statistics, in 2023, there were 33 homicides in Mobile, eight less than the previous year. That decrease represented a 19.5% drop in the murder rate. The number of rapes decreased from 119 to 77, marking a 35% decline from 2022. There were 154 less burglaries, 140 less aggravated assaults, and 6 less vehicle thefts in 2023 than the year prior.
Robberies in the city, on a sharp downward trend since 2017, were slightly up from 143 in 2022 to 146 in 2023.
RELATED: Port of Mobile delivers $98.3 billion economic impact, Ivey dubs ‘The Port of Alabama’
Chief of Mobile Police, Paul Prine, broke down the numbers in the report.
“The City of Mobile reduced all Part I crimes by 17%, and 10% in violent crimes compared to 2022,” wrote Prine. “Mobile experienced reductions in every crime category with exception of robberies, which was up 2%. In real numbers, that’s three robbery cases more than 2022.”
“The department’s strategic plan is working.”
“Crime is trending down, decremental, which allows us to adjust what works while sustaining the reduction going forward.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
