Shoplifting cases nearly double inside Madison

MADISON — Police reported nearly twice as many shoplifting cases here in 2019 as opposed to 2018, according to uniformed crime rate statistics released by the Police Department last week.

The city had 46 more Type 1 crimes in 2019, compared to 2018, and reported 378 incidents in total. In 2018, the number of Type 1 crimes was 332.

Type 1 crimes are classified as major crimes by the FBI.

The increase from 2018 to 2019 was largely influenced by larcenies in the city, with 19 more incidents in 2019 from 2018.

Grand larcenies dropped from 22 in 2018, to 10 reported cases in 2019. Petit larcenies also dropped from 132 incidents to 102. However, shoplifting increased from 78 to 139.

"Larcenies, to include shoplifting, continue to be the leading category," Police Chief Gene Waldrop said in a release. "We remind our citizens to close carports when not in use, remove valuables from their vehicles and secure them at all times."

Assaults increased by 18, led in part with 99 reports of simple assault, and 7 reports of aggravated assault. Waldrop attributed the assault cases as domestic violence assaults. Aggravated assault reports actually decreased from 16 to 7.

There were no reported murders or rapes in 2019, but there were two reports of robberies, an increase of one from the previous year.

There were 13 residential burglaries reported, an increase of 8 from 2018, and four business burglaries reported, double the number from 2018.

There was also one report of auto theft.



The report is voluntarily submitted to the FBI and, according to Waldrop, is used to "gauge manpower and equipment resource deployment, crime prevention techniques and methods, and crime detection/suppression tactics."

Waldrop said the Madison Police Department maintains high visibility and relies on citizen participation, citing those as effective anti-crime measures.

"As in years past, year 2019 has seen a continuation of the population growth in the city and a tremendous and steady growth in the commercial, retail and professional community," he said. "I congratulate the city of Madison officials, members of the Madison Police Department and especially the citizens of the city for a partnership that is successfully working to keep crime to a minimum and the city a safe and wholesome environment to live, raise a family and retire."