Shreveport Crime Rate Lowest in 26 Years

Less than a month into a new year, Shreveport recorded its fourth homicide of 2007. Goodies Beauty Supply owner Myoung Ran Ellis was shot in the head and later died after refusing to give money to a teenager attempting to rob her business. Now, 15-year-old, Corenza Kelly of Shreveport is charged with first degree murder. He will be tried as an adult. While it may appear the New Year has started off on a violent streak, Shreveport Police have some positive news to report-the annual crime statistics for the city. In 2006, Shreveport hit its lowest overall crime rate in 26 years. Officials point to a "hard working police force" and increased patrols for Shreveports lowest crime numbers in over two decades. The number of homicides dropped over thirty percent in 2006, rapes dropped three percent and robberies six percent-three major categories that former chief Mike Campbell had hoped to see dwindle. Some residents of the Martin Luther King area, a neighborhood that`s seen a decrease in burglaries, credited increased patrols for the crime stat drop in their area. In the words of one resident, the police are "keeping people off the streets and keeping everything in order." One Shreveport crime stat did not go down. In fact, car theft was up 25 percent. Police have instituted a "bait car" program to try to catch thieves. An automobile or truck is set up with video and audio recorders and other security devices and is left to tempt the car thieves. So far, only one has taken the bait, but police expect to catch more criminals in the act. Even though former Chief Mike Campbell is gone, interim Chief Van Sant says he and his force will continue to use the knowledge Campbell passed to them to lower the crime figures even more.