The city of Madison did not see any major violent crimes in 2023, just as it did not in 2022.
That’s according to data reported by the Madison Police Department to the National Incident Based Reporting System, which the department began using on Jan. 1, 2021. The National Incident Based Reporting System contains more detailed crime information versus the previous data under the expired Summary Reporting System of the Uniform Crime Reporting program.
Madison Police Chief Gene Waldrop said Madison continues to enjoy a relatively low crime rate.
“We continually remind our citizens to secure their homes and garages when not in use, remove valuables from their automobiles and secure them at all times preferably in the trunk,” he said. “The Madison Police Department continues to utilize a combination of citizen input and programs, along with a highly visible police presence in an attempt to keep crime to a minimum. Citizen participation is a major component to any successful anti-crime efforts in the city of Madison.”
Two points stand out in the 2023 report:
“There was a decrease in Total Group A offenses reported for the calendar year of 2023 mainly consisting of property crimes – specifically financial crimes, embezzlement (by employees), fraud and identity theft.
“Simple assaults increased with the majority of assault cases consisting of the offenders knowing the victims.”
In 2023, the Madison Police Department reported a total of 752 offenses with 451 of those cleared, resulting in a 59.97 percent clearance rate. That’s fewer than in 2022, when a total of 835 offenses were reported with 540 of those cleared, resulting in a 64.67 clearance rate.
In 2023, the number of arrests reported was 857 of which 822 were adults and 35 were juveniles. That’s fewer than in 2022 when number of arrests reported was 987 with 964 of those adults and 23 juveniles.
Larceny, shoplifting, identity theft, credit card/automated teller machine fraud, false pretenses/swindle/confidence games and embezzlement represented the majority of crimes in Madison in both 2022 and 2023.
In 2023, there were seven reports of burglary/breaking & entering with four of those cleared; 17 counterfeiting/forgery incidents with three cleared; 29 destruction/damage/vandalism of property reports with five cleared; 11 reports of embezzlement with seven cleared; nine reports of extortion/blackmail with zero cleared; 36 reports of false pretenses/swindle/confidence games, with three cleared; 37 reports of credit card/automated teller fraud with six cleared; seven reports of wire fraud with two cleared; 38 reports of identity theft with zero cleared; 73 reports of shoplifting with 49 cleared; 10 reports of theft from motor vehicle with five cleared; 85 reports of all other larceny with 38 cleared; and 20 stolen property offenses, with 19 cleared.
In 2022, there were 11 reports of burglary/breaking and entering with nine cleared; 15 reports of counterfeiting/forgery with four cleared; 24 reports of destruction/damage/vandalism of property, with nine cleared; 15 reports of embezzlement with 10 cleared; three reports of extortion/blackmail with zero cleared; 33 reports of false pretenses/swindle/confidence game with seven cleared; 49 credit card/automated teller machine fraud with six cleared; two reports of wire fraud with zero cleared; 64 reports of identity theft with four cleared; 71 reports of shoplifting with 49 cleared; 12 reports of theft from a motor vehicle with six cleared; 68 reports of all other larceny with 10 cleared; one motor vehicle theft and one cleared; and 15 stolen property offenses with 14 cleared.
In 2023, there were 197 drug/narcotic violations reported with 172 cleared; 65 drug equipment violations with all cleared; and 17 weapon law violations with all cleared.
In 2022, there were 278 drug/narcotic violations with 261 cleared; 78 drug equipment violations with 76 cleared; and 18 weapon law violations with 16 cleared.
