Crime Analysis: Downtown

PITTSBURGH, PA (Sept. 12, 2019) -- In response to multiple media inquiries regarding crime statistics in the Central Business District, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police’s Crime Analysis Unit has compiled a comprehensive look at calls for service and crime in the area over the last five years.

The City of Pittsburgh, Public Safety and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police take any and all crime in any part of the city seriously.

However, we understand the recent scrutiny on Downtown and the Cultural District following four stabbings, including one fatal, in August.

Police have increased patrols Downtown, an effort that resulted in an immediate arrest following every August stabbing.

Some analysis highlights:

-- Total Part 1 crimes for the first 8 months of the year 2019 are essentially unchanged from the 5 year average for the same time period 2014-2018

-- Part 1 Property crimes show a 4% decrease compared to the 5 year average

-- August 2019 Part 1 Crimes shows a 10% decrease from the average August over the last 5 years

-- Four (4) aggravated assaults in August are slightly higher than the 5 year average of 3.75

-- Robberies were down 67% at 3, compared to the average of 9 robberies at this point in the year over the last 5 years.

-- Over the last 5 years, violent crimes have been more likely to occur between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

View the full report here

Regarding the Downtown substation, it is open daily from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. and often stays open until midnight or later during large events Downtown. A desk officer is on shift every day during those hours.

In addition to the desk officer, there are a number of officers on patrol from the substation. Their exact numbers vary depending on need.

For officers assigned to the substation, their primary responsibility is to perform foot patrols in the Downtown core.

The most common calls to police covering the Downtown area over the past year (July to July) were:

1) disorderly person (824)

2) burglary alarm (761)

3) parking complaint (526)

4) welfare check (469)

5) trespass (362)

In the name of transparency, Public Safety will continue to provide regular crime analyses to the public.