The City of DeKalb has experienced a drop in crime over the past year, according to the DeKalb Police Department’s 2010 Annual Report.

According to the report, DeKalb saw a 10 percent reduction in FBI Part I crimes, which are used to calculate the crime rate issued by the FBI, between 2009 and 2010. Part I crimes include homicide, criminal sexual assault and robbery. DeKalb also saw a 13 percent decrease in FBI Part II crimes between 2009 and 2010. Part II crimes include battery, criminal trespassing, gambling and cannabis control.

Although overall crime has gone down in DeKalb over the last year, the report shows an increase in violent crime in DeKalb in 2010. There were 199 instances of violent crimes in 2010, an increase by 19 from 2009. 2010 shows the highest number of violent crimes since 2006, which reported 192 instances of violent crimes.

Property crime declined in 2010, down by 180, representing the lowest since 2006, which had 1232 reports of property crime.

The DeKalb Police Department instituted a bike patrol unit in 2001, which patrols the southern, northeast and NIU campus areas of DeKalb. According to the report, arrests by the bike patrol unit rose by 19, rising from 11 arrests in 2009 to 30 in 2010.

The report also stated the number of traffic accidents declined in 2010. There were 1496 traffic accidents in DeKalb in 2010, down 207 from 2009 and down 315 from 2008. According to the report, the intersection at Annie Glidden Road and Lincoln Highway was the intersection with the highest accident rate in 2010.

According to the report, the total number of traffic arrests declined in 2010 as well. DeKalb saw a decrease of 2298 arrests from 2009 and a decrease of 2406 arrests from 2008.

The report stated the amount of DUI arrests decreased in 2010. There were 133 DUI arrests in DeKalb in 2010, down 24 from 2009.

According to the report, there was one violent crime, as well as one burglary every two days in DeKalb in 2010. There was also one incident of property crime every seven hours, as well as one theft every eight hours. There was one report of aggravated assault or battery every three days and one report of criminal sexual assault every eight days.

In a statement for the report, DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said the 2010 crime and accident trends reflected those in many parts of the United States.

“Successful investigations and aggressive patrol tactics also broadcast a message that DeKalb will not tolerate violence, and this department will aggressively pursue violent offenders, gangs and those who destroy lives by the sale of drugs,” Feithen said.