Joliet crime by the numbers

Police Chief Al Roechner presented a historical comparison of crime statistics last week, hoping to show the 19 homicides of 2019 did not reflect a citywide crime wave.

The six-year comparisons in Roechner's presentation showed all violent crime actually falling last year.

Incidents of shots fired were at a five-year high. But Roechner pointed to a record number of guns confiscated.

"It's really important to show the great work our officers are doing out there," he said. "There may be more shots fired, but there are guns being seized."

Here's a look at numbers in the presentation Roechner made to the City Council.

Homicides

The 19 homicides of 2019 was sharply up from eight the previous year. But 2018 was a sharp drop from the 16 homicides in 2017. Previous years were lower: nine in 2016; 11 in 2015; and nine in 2014.

Roechner pointed back to 1990 and 1991, when there were 22 homicides each year even though the Joliet population was about half what it is now, saying the numbers can spike without representing a long-time trend.

All violent crimes

All violent crimes – homicide, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal sexual assault and robbery – totaled 475 in 2019, the second lowest in six years.

The 99 robberies were the lowest in that period. Aggravated batteries at 198 were the second highest.

Violent crime totals in previous years were: 488 in 2018, 557 in 2017, 497 in 2016, 472 in 2015, and 514 in 2014.

The 10-year average for violent incidents was 503 annually, and it was higher in previous decades: 633 in the 2000s and 852 in the 1990s.

Shots fired and seized guns

The numbers do indicate Joliet has a gun problem.

The 319 guns seized in 2019 is by far the most since Joliet started recording the numbers in 2007.

But the number of shooting incidents at 615 was at a six-year high.

More than half of those incidents were unconfirmed. Confirmed incidents were the highest in six years in every category except reckless discharge.

They included 15 homicides, 59 aggravated batteries, 159 aggravated discharges, and 54 reckless discharges.

Property crimes

Property crimes also showed a trend, and it's a good one. The number of property crimes have declined every year since 2015.

The 2,248 property crimes in 2019 is far below the 10-year average at 3,651.

The 256 burglaries last year were by far the lowest in six years.

Motor vehicle thefts at 167 was the highest in that period, even though the 480 burglaries to motor vehicles was the second lowest. The 1,298 thefts were the second lowest. The 47 arsons were a six-year low.