This guest post comes from Officer Alesia Zacher, our Community Liaison Officer.
Crime is an unfortunate reality for those living in a city like Columbus, but there are things we can do to protect ourselves!
In a recent meeting of the Sharon Woods Civic Association, I had the opportunity to share some recent statistics released by the City of Columbus’ Major Crimes Bureau. Some notable takeaways from this data include:
- Decreased homicides in 2022 compared with the two previous years,
- Zone 1 (where Sharon Woods is located) had the fewest incidents of homicides of all five zones,
- A homicide solve rate of over 80%,
- Decreased felony assaults in 2022 compared with 2021, and
- Zone 1 had the fewest incidents of felony assaults of all five zones.
Homicide Trends in Columbus
80.2% Homicide Solve Rate
January–November 2022; Includes Solves From Previous Year
Felony Assault Trends in Columbus
31.6% Felony Assaults Solve Rate
January–November 2022; Includes Solves From Previous Years.
It’s never comforting to talk about crime, but I look at these trends and see cause for hope. Homicides and felony assaults are both down from the previous year, and our local Zone 1 has been insulated from many of the incidents suffered in Zones 2–5. That said, it’s always good to be reminded of the importance of vigilance.
So what can you do to protect yourself? Here are just a couple of suggestions:
- If you see an issue, call it in. The Columbus Police non-emergency line (614-645-4545) is a great resource for general concerns or suspicious activity.
- Criminals prefer to hide in the dark, so make sure the city addresses any burn-out streetlights. You can call the non-emergency line for these issues or submit a request via the CBUS 311 service (614-645-3111; Columbus.gov/311; [email protected]).
- Always be mindful of your surroundings and belongings when walking or getting in and out of your vehicle. For example, thieves have become very good at snatching purses in gas station parking lots when people aren’t looking.
- Install a security system in your home and display a visual notice that your house is under surveillance.
- If you’re expecting a valuable package delivery when you’re not home, ask the driver to put the box in a less conspicuous location. You can also arrange to have a neighbor pick it up for you until you get home.
As always, call 911 if you’re in an emergency. In Franklin County, if you need help but can’t safely speak on the phone or are unable to speak, you can send a text message to 911 instead. Call if you can; text if you can’t.
Thanks for staying mindful and vigilant about the safety of Sharon Woods and for alerting law enforcement when issues arise. Together we’re combating crime and making Columbus a safer and more peaceful place to call home!
