Yakima Police Watching Crime During COVID-19 Lockdown

Yakima Police are tracking crime trends during the COVID-19 pandemic. Capt. Jay Seely says they saw increases and decreases in major crimes during the month of March when compared to March of 2018 and 2019.
With many people now at home Seely says they expected a decrease in burglaries but that didn't happen. In March of 2018, 42 residential burglaries were reported. In 2019 there were 25 burglaries in the month of March. But March of this year burglaries shot back up to 30.
Vehicle theft numbers have remained steady with 41 stolen in March of this year compared to 41 in 2019 and 54 in March of 2018.
The number of assaults decreased by one from March of 2019 to 2020. 126 assaults were reported in 2018, 99 in 2019 and 98 in March of this year.
Capt. Seely says they'll continue to track crime trends and numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With so many businesses closed Seely says they've increased patrols to prevent burglaries and vandalism.