Dallas isn't the only North Texas city taking a massive bite out of crime.
Just a few days after Dallas touted their lowest crime rate in 47 years, the City of Irving is reporting crime rates have dropped to an all-time low and that the number of homicides have fallen to numbers not seen since the 1970s.
The trend isn't a new one for the city. For the ninth straight year, the City of Irving is reporting a drop in the overall crime rate.
In a statement released to the media, the city attributed the most recent overall decline to "significant reductions in burglaries and violent crime" that contributed to a drop of 1.6 percent in 2013. Regarding those classifications, the city reported a 10 percent reduction in burglaries and a 14 percent reduction in sexual assaults.
Perhaps even more impressive is that in 2013 the number of homicides dropped a level not recorded since 1976. The city of 217,000 reported only two homicides last year, one in February and another in December.
In 2012 the city recorded three homicides. Over the last two years the number of homicides in Irving are fewer than half of what they were as recently as 2011 when eight people were killed in the city.
"The Department’s continued focus on known offenders, along with the use of crime data to strategically deploy resources, contributed to the decrease in crime. Additionally, a strong partnership with the community helped us achieve our success in maintaining safe neighborhoods," the city said in a statement. "In 2007, Irving reported the lowest crime rate in its recorded history and the crime rate has continued to set record lows each year, including 2013. These continued reductions in crime could not have occurred without the hard work and dedication of the men and women of the Irving Police Department and the responsible actions and cooperation of Irving residents."
