Chief reports violent crime drop

Durham's rate of violent crime continued its decline through 2009's third quarter, Police Chief Jose L. Lopez (below right) told the City Council Monday night.

Through Sept. 30, the city had had 18 homicides, four fewer than at the same point in 2008. Overall, cases of violent crime -- homicide, rape, aggravated assault and robbery, were down 13 percent from the previous year and down 6 percent from 2007.

Property crimes, though, were up 2 percent over 2008: 8,731 cases compared with 8,535. The increase, Lopez said, is primarily due to a rash of residential burglaries and convenience-store breakins.

"We continue to urge citizens to call 911 when they notice suspicious activity," Lopez said.

Mayor Bill Bell raised concern about the lower rate of clearance for criminal cases: 29 percent this year versus 45 percent in 2008 through September 2008 for violent crime and 20 percent versus 22 percent for property crime.

"I'm hopeful [the rate] will go higher," Lopez said. "To what extent, I can't say."

Councilman Eugene Brown asked about a still-unsolved four-year old murder case in which five men were killed in a condominium complex off Hope Valley Road. The killings occurred before Lopez came to Durham.

Lopez said one suspect is awaiting trial and his department is still investigating accomplices.

"We're sending investigators nationwide, following any and every lead," he said. "We do have suspects and we are investigating various leads. ... No stone's been left unturned."