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Mayor Allen Owen MISSOURI CITY — Crime is down in this suburban city southwest of Houston, according to data released by the Missouri City Police Department.

According to the department, overall crime, including burglary, rape and robbery is down 7.2 percent from this time a year ago.

“It’s encouraging,” said Joel Fitzgerald, chief of the Missouri City Police Department. “We always want to do much better.”

Fitzgerald told 11News three things were attributed to the drop in crime: increased patrols in Missouri City neighborhoods, more neighborhood crime watch programs and ongoing crackdowns on gangs and drugs.

“Crime, in general, is something that we’re not going to find a magic elixir to solve the problems of the entire city all at once,” he said. “So, we have to take it by a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis.”

Though overall crime is down, Missouri City is still working to lower the number of some types of assaults and thefts. It’s also encouraging residents to join a virtual citizen’s patrol – by using E-mail and text messages – to get in touch with officers.

“There’s crime everywhere,” said Courtland Byrd, owner of CB’s Barber Shop. “[But] I’m happy where I live.”