Theft is the Most Common Crime in Brecksville for 2010

The most common crime in Brecksville is larceny or theft, according to the most recent Uniform Crime Report from the FBI.

In 2010, there were 47 thefts in Brecksville, according to the report. The numbers were similar in recent years – there were 41 in 2009, 54 in 2008 and 53 in 2007.

The term “theft” applies when someone steals something outside of a residence – that could range from shoplifting to grabbing someone’s purse to taking something out of a car, Police Chief Richard E. Mannarino said. Burglary, a more serious crime, includes entering a residence. There were 11 of those in 2010.

There were also five “violent crimes” in Brecksville in 2010, including three aggravated assaults, according to the report.

But compared to other cities with between 12,000 and 13,000 residents in 2010, Brecksville’s crime rates were much lower.

“I think Brecksville’s a very safe community,” Mannarino said.

He attributes that to the city’s aggressive patrol. He said that the looks for violations, which can often lead to other charges, and that the detectives do a good job of following up on incidents. Other, larger cities may not always have the time or resources.

“We follow everything up that we can,” he said.