Local crime

by the numbers
By Melanie Davis
melanie@mountaintimes.com

The State Bureau of Investigation has released the statewide crime statistics for 2007.

As a whole, reports of crime rose 0.1 percent over 2006 statewide, with violent crime dropping 0.7 percent.

“While no level of crime is acceptable, law enforcement’s work to keep the rate of violent crime down is much needed,” said N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper.

“But as any cop on the beat will tell you, when the economy goes down, crime goes up, and we’re troubled to see even a small increase in North Carolina’s overall crime rate.”

The crime rates are broken into two categories, violent crime which includes murder, rape, robberies and aggravated assaults, and property crime, which includes burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.

At the state level, the murder rate rose by 8.5 percent. The remaining violent crimes decreased, with rapes down 5.2 percent, robberies down 0.4 percent and aggravated assault down 0.6 percent.

Larceny increased by 1.5 percent, while burglary decreased by 0.2 percent and motor vehicle theft went down 0.6 percent.

Crime in North Carolina remains low as compared to 10-year trends, down by 15 percent. Meanwhile, the state’s population has grown 19.1 percent.

The above statistics are compiled by the SBI based on reports submitted by law enforcement agencies from across the state and are based on an index of 100,000 persons.

The Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, Blowing Rock Police Department, Boone Police Department and Appalachian State University Police Department report crime statistics to the SBI for compilation. The Seven Devils Police Department did not participate in the 2007 rates, although it has contributed in the previous nine years. Chief Chuck Davis could not be reached for comment on the department’s decision to abstain.

Trends in Watauga County were consistent with the statewide numbers, with an overall decrease in violent and an increase in property crime rates.

County-wide numbers, as submitted to the SBI, show two murders in the county reported in 2007, none in the previous year. Rape decreased to four from nine reported rapes in 2006. Robbery increased by one to six total for latest year, while aggravated assault dropped from 37 to 29.

Property crimes showed increases in burglary and larceny, 333 over 300 and 879 over 819, respectively. Motor vehicle theft decreased by 10 to 46 total reported in 2007.

Looking at long-term trends, crime in Watauga County has remained fairly stable. The numbers reported in 2007 are in fact below the 10-year average in each category with the exception of murder. There have been ten murders over the last ten years, two of which were reported in the most recent.

“It is interesting to note that 10 years ago in 1997 the property crime total was 632, 189 more than in 2007,” said Boone Police Chief Bill Post. “To the men and women of Boone PD, each of these numbers represents a crime victim. Each of these victims are important to us and we strive to make Boone as safe a place as it can possible be.”

Watauga County Sheriff Len Hagaman was unavailable for comment on the crime trends. Captain of Investigations Dee Dee Rominger spoke on behalf of the agency.

“The Sheriff and command staff have reviewed the most recent 2007 crime trends and are of the opinion that the decrease in violent and property crimes in Watauga County may be attributed to, in part, the fact that although Watauga County, by comparison to other surrounding counties and jurisdictions have a much higher officer-to-population ratio, that, even with this lower ratio, the officers are extremely dedicated and are committed to their duties and responsibilities,” she said.

“In addition, the cooperation among law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal level has increased and communities are looking out for each other through community watches.”

A category in which a substantial increase can be noticed for Watauga County is the recovery of stolen property.

In 2006, a total value of $1,130,220 in property was reported stolen. Of that figure, $302,481 was recovered.

In 2007, a total value of $1,412,324 in property was reported stolen, with $493,219 was recovered. These figures show an increase by eight to 34.9 percent of property recovered.

“The biggest challenge facing the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office in recovering stolen property is the fact that most individuals do not have the serial numbers for their items,” Rominger said. “If the citizens of Watauga County would document the serial numbers for their items and put some kind of personal identification on the items it would make recovery easier. Otherwise, we have no way of identifying the items if recovered.”

Post and Rominger each spoke of the goals for the individual agencies.

“The Boone department will continue to emphasize traffic safety, graffiti and vehicle break-ins,” Post said. “We continue to ask the public to be vigilant concerning the risk, and reduce becoming victims by locking car doors and closely monitoring their property.”

The Watauga County Sheriff’s Office will continue with the latest training in law enforcement and officer safety.

“If officers are properly trained and educated, that knowledge can be passed on to the general public,” Rominger added. “Educating the general public helps law enforcement to more effectively do their jobs of recognizing crime risks and initiating some action to remove or reduce crime.”