About 30 neighbors stopped by the Community Safety Meeting at Blakely Hall last week to discuss crime prevention within Issaquah Highlands. Issaquah Police Department (IPD) officer Andrea Grieve, accompanied by crime analyst Ryan Smith, answered questions related to theft, simple assaults, traffic violations and more.
Smith said crime is down 13% year-to-date (YTD) citywide and 17% in Issaquah Highlands. While there is still work to be done, she noted that the needle is moving.
Several residents expressed concern about shoplifting in our local businesses. Grieve highlighted the importance of stores to cooperate, call the police department about theft, and press charges against suspected shoplifters.
She added that most criminals do not reside in Issaquah, but rather ride the bus from Seattle or other surrounding areas. Additionally, homeless individuals are the highest offenders of crime.
According to Smith, IPD is tracking repeat offenders as well. The city of Issaquah is an active proponent of prosecuting and punishing criminals, she added.
Data from IPD shows that crimes against property represent nearly 70% of all reported crimes in Issaquah Highlands. However, compared to the same time last year, there has been a 30% decrease in property crimes.
Meanwhile, there has been an increase in crimes against people, a majority of which are categorized as simple assaults. Of these assaults, about 64% ended in an arrest where appropriate. Nearly 60% of all assaults in Issaquah Highlands YTD have been domestic violence related.
“While Issaquah is a generally safe place, domestic violence can happen to anyone, anywhere, and it’s important to remind each other that there are resources out there and you are never alone,” Smith said.
Several residents were interested in conducting a traffic study for the intersection of NE Park Drive and 10th Ave NE near Caffe Ladro, a popular spot for speeding and accidents. They also plan to bring concerns to Issaquah City Council regarding the importance of working cameras in the community to detect crime.
Grieve said IPD is working to bring on more officers. However, they cannot be everywhere at once. There is hardly any time to sit and wait for a crime to occur, she noted.
As with all crime, reporting leads to increased patrols. Grieve encourages residents to report any crimes (even if you are unsure) by calling 911 or the non-emergency number at 425-837-3200.
To stay up to date on local crime, follow Issaquah Police Department on Facebook and Twitter. The city also releases a crime blotter with weekly accounts on its website.
