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Crime stats show burglaries down in Magnolia after private security patrols

Neighborhood leaders in Magnolia say their new private security patrols are working. They just released crime statistics that show a reduction in burglaries.

The numbers were compiled using data from Seattle Police Department records. They looked at car break-ins, residential burglaries and other crimes.

For the month of December, there was a 7 percent decrease in overall property crimes, compared to the year before.

Burglaries went down from 21 in December 2014, to 15 in December 2015. But there was one more larceny-theft and one more car theft in December 2015 than during the previous December.

So, it was the burglary number that drove the crime stats down.

The privately funded Central Protection security patrol started in December when 135 Magnolia residents said they were tired of the uptick in crime and were willing to pay to enhance patrols, if SPD couldn't afford to.

They patrol three days a week, seven hours a day, and when they see a crime or something suspicious, the security guards call SPD.

According to the neighborhood organizers, other Seattle neighborhood councils are looking into adding similar patrols.

Organizers say people who contribute money for the patrols are getting a return on their investment. But of course, they're trying to get more people to sign up.

A few more months of crime reduction might be the best selling point they could come up with.