FBI: Crime rose in Bloomington, Monroe County in 2006

Violent crime and property crime have increased throughout Bloomington and Monroe County, according to FBI data released this month.\nHowever, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and the IU Police Department said the rise in numbers doesn’t mean the Bloomington area is becoming more dangerous. Possible reasons for the increase include rash decision making, more crimes being reported and a poor economy. IUPD reported slight decreases in rape and aggravated assault.\nThe FBI defined violent crime as offenses that involve force or the threat of force, such as murder, non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. The information, submitted by local police officials to the FBI, showed an increase in this type of crime in Bloomington. \nMore aggravated assaults were reported in both Monroe County and Bloomington. Police reported 13 more aggravated assaults in Monroe County. In Bloomington, 146 aggravated assaults were reported in 2006 versus 92 in 2005.\nBut IUPD reported 14 fewer violent crimes in 2006. Reports of forcible rape decreased from 16 in 2005 to six in 2006, and aggravated assault dropped from 17 in 2005 to 14 in 2006. IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said the decrease could have a number of causes. He said police try to keep officers visible on campus to deter crime.\nBut Scott Mellinger, chief deputy of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, said not all crime can be prevented “unless you have a police officer within 10 feet of every person.” \n“I don’t believe all violent crime can be prevented because people get mad and go into a rage and that can’t be prevented,” Mellinger said.\nMellinger said the increase in aggravated assault can be attributed to anger and rash decisions, not necessarily that Bloomington is becoming a more violent place. \nThe largest rise was in property crime, burglary and larceny, with 201 more property theft crimes reported than 2005 in Bloomington. Mellinger attributed the rise in burglary and larceny to the economy. If the economy isn’t great, people will be more likely to steal, he said. Mellinger said a drop in this type of crime means that a few people decided not to steal that year, not that the city or county is more or less safe.\nThe reason for the higher numbers could also be that more crimes are being reported, which can skew the numbers, Mellinger said. \n“Reporting rates are continuing to increase because society is realizing that not reporting crime is a lose-lose situation,” he said.\nMinger said the crime numbers do not show a large increase. \n“It was relatively small, considering the amount of people living here,” Minger said.\nNationwide, 27,050 more violent crimes were reported in 2006 than in 2005, a 1.9 percent increase, according to FBI statistics.