Cheyenne Property Crime Decreasing

Cheyenne’s property crime rate has been declining significantly in 2019 while the violent crime rate remains below the national average.

After seeing several years of increasing property crimes in Cheyenne, the Cheyenne Police Department made addressing property crime it’s #1 goal for 2019. This has been done through increased investigative efforts, the use of crime analytics, public awareness and prevention, as well as solid prosecutions through the justice system.

In August, the CPD investigated 16 burglary cases, 33 theft from motor vehicle cases, 18 stolen vehicle cases and 32 shoplifting cases. The graphs below illustrate the number of property crimes for the last two years, comparing monthly data between 2018 and 2019. Year to date, burglaries are down 34%, vehicle burglaries are down 41%, and stolen vehicles are down 19%.

While the property crime rates have been decreasing, it’s important that citizens remain vigilant and continue to lock their vehicles and houses to prevent themselves from being victims of property crimes. Most property crimes occur as the criminals find a target of opportunity with doors unlocked and valuables within. Nearly all stolen vehicles were stolen when the vehicles were left unlocked with the keys inside. Almost every week this year the CPD has responded to a vehicle burglary involving a gun stolen from a vehicle which was left unlocked. The CPD reminds citizens to do your part and “Lock It or Lose It.”

The Cheyenne Police Department has forwarded the following cases on for prosecution over the last several weeks:

• A string of vehicle burglaries, occurring between August 1 and August 8 in the area of Goins Elementary have been linked to Bradley Faraci, 19, of Cheyenne, as well as a 16-year-old male and a 14 year-old-female. In interviews with the suspects, one suspect admitted to looking for unlocked vehicles at night and stealing whatever may be valuable within. This case resolved 6 reported vehicle burglaries, but items recovered indicate 6 more victims who have not yet made a police report.
• A search warrant served on the residence of Cade Freeman, 24, of Cheyenne, resolved 4 different burglaries. Property recovered included 2 stolen ATVs, 3 stolen motorcycles, other stolen recreational equipment, as well as the seizure of felony amounts of methamphetamine and heroin.
• A theft ring at a local distribution center was also solved, with two people identified as stealing and reselling merchandise valued at approximately $20,000. William Cross, 36, of Cheyenne, was arrested on August 27 after breaking into a residence in the 7000 block of Hawthorne Drive. Cross was detained by the homeowner until officers arrived and is suspected of a burglary at the same location which occurred on August 26, in which Cross broke a window at the residence to gain entry and then consumed a beer from the victim’s refrigerator.