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The Cities Blog
Brandt Williams

Safety in low numbers – when it comes to temperature

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(MPR photo of Nicollet Mall taken in June 2012)

Remember last March when temperatures reached into the upper 70s? When people wandered out into the streets and sidewalk cafes to take advantage of the apparent gift from the weather gods? Minneapolis police officers patrolling downtown remember very well. They blamed the early end of winter hibernation for a rash of robberies and assaults. According to MPD stats, last year during the week of March 12-18, there were 20 violent crimes reported. Ten of those were robberies.

This March is, of course, much, much colder. MPD stats show six violent crimes reported downtown during the same period this year - a 70 percent drop from last year. Citywide, the week of March 12-18, 2013 saw a 42 percent drop in crime over the same period in 2012.