A December newsletter from the Madison Police Department notes that although numerous forms of crime have become less frequent during 2009, thefts from automobiles and drug incidents saw a significant increase throughout the year.

Compiled by MPD Central District Captain Mary Schauf the newsletter is essentially a year in review report with respect to crime in Madison’s central district, which encompasses much of the downtown and campus area.

According to the letter, instances of theft from an automobile increased from 284 in 2008 to 399 last year. Drug related incidents also saw an increase from 342 to 429.

Schauf noted in the report that theft from vehicles continues to be a concern for law enforcement officials in the area.

“This is an example of a crime of opportunity, the items taken from cars are easily concealed, saleable for quick cash and all too frequently just laying in view behind that glass window,” Schauf said in the report.

The number of offenses a single suspect can commit can cause crime statistics to increase in a short period of time, Schauf added. Simply better concealment of valuables within a vehicle can add greatly to the prevention of crimes of this sort.

Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, who represents much of the campus area, said it is encouraging to see decreases in many forms of crime, but the increase in crimes such as theft and drug incidents is troubling.

“The downtown and campus areas as a whole are very safe places, especially when compared to other cities of similar size,” Eagon said. “I think an important message to get out to students is to be proactive in reporting crimes or unsafe situations, they can’t be deterred from getting information to police.”

Schauf noted many crimes in the area are committed with the intention of obtaining drugs or alcohol more easily. She noted MPD has performed more drug investigations and issued more drug abatement letters in the last year as a result of the increase in drug incidents.

A drug abatement letter, as described by Schauf in the report, is a notice issued to a property owner instructing them to address and work to prevent drug activity on the premises. If the nuisance is not removed, then action may be taken by the city to properly address the issue.

Although figures provided by the report note that instances of armed robbery, residential burglary, domestic violence and weapons offenses have remained fairly stable in recent years, instances of battery, sexual assault and calls regarding fights decreased in frequency from the previous year. In 2009, there also were zero instances of homicide — down from three the year before.

“It’s hard to think of crime as just numbers when there are real people being affected,” Eagon said. “It must be seen as every individual, every instance in order to properly address what needs to be improved or changed.”