For the seventh year in a row, the City of Natchez has experienced a drop in crime.

The Natchez Police Department reported a decrease of about 2.6 percent during the 2000 calendar year with the number of reported offenses falling from 1,525 to 1,486.

&uot;It’s gone down every year, and that’s what I’m proud of,&uot; said Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff.

These reports represent part I crimes, which make up the Uniform Crime Report of National Crime Statistics tracked by the FBI.

These crimes are homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, petit and grand larceny and motor vehicle theft.

&uot;It’s a pretty good indicator of what’s happening in a community,&uot; Huff said.

In 1994 the community reported 1,787 of these crimes to the Natchez Police Department, and it has seen a steady decline every year since.

Last year, homicides dropped from three to one and rapes dropped from eight to three not including incest or statutory rapes, Huff said. Robberies dropped by four to 22, aggravated assaults dropped by three to 31, burglaries dropped by 44 to 211 and motor vehicle thefts dropped by 12 to 26.

&uot;It’s a small decrease but it shows a trend over the last several years,&uot; Huff said.

The only increase was in larcenies – which include gas-drive offs and shoplifting – from 1,161 reports to 1,192.

Huff attributes the downward trend to the proactive nature of his department in addressing crime, community policing and education of the public.

Programs such as neighborhood watches, Miss-Lou Crime Stoppers and the Triad Council, which addresses safety issues that affect senior citizens, also are a factor. The efforts of the local municipal court and laws such as the 85 percent law also help, Huff said.

To continue this trend, Huff wants residents to report all crime.

&uot;Even if they’re missing a garden hose, even if it’s a garden rake – report it to us,&uot; Huff said.

Most likely many crimes such as rape or other offenses sometimes do not get reported.

&uot;I feel there are crimes that go unreported because people feel it won’t do any good and they won’t ever get their property back,&uot; Huff said.