County crime rates rise 28 percent from last year

The Monroe Country Sheriff’s Department has seen an increase in crime of about 28 percent from 2007, based on the Uniform Crime Reports submitted by the department.\nAccording to a media release from Monroe County Sheriff Jim Kennedy, the increase in crimes were those consisting of Part 1 offenses, which include larceny theft, burglary, aggravated assault, motor vehicle theft, murder, rape, robbery and non-negligent manslaughter.\nThe reports on Monroe County do not include the reports from Bloomington or IU, but the surrounding areas, which contain about half of the population of Monroe County, Kennedy said.\nThe Uniform Crime Reports classification of offenses chart showed that larceny theft was the most reported crime in 2007, with 413 reported cases. According to the release, simple assault is not recorded on the Uniform Crime Reports, but it is still kept on record at the sheriff’s department. The record systems said simple assault rose from 140 to 226 in one year. Reported crimes against persons from 2006 to 2007 increased about 34 percent, while private property crime increased to about 28 percent.\nThe rise in crime could be attributed to several factors, Kennedy said, but he can only speculate. A more accurate way of keeping records could have a lot to do with the increase of statistics, since more crimes are being reported.\nAnother reason for the increase, Kennedy said, is the retailers moving out of the city limits and into the surrounding county areas. Stores such as Wal-Mart are farther away from Bloomington, which causes an increase in theft and other problems, Kennedy said. \nThe same is true for housing developments, Kennedy said. Neighborhoods expanding from the city farther into the county creates a higher risk of crime for Monroe County.\nAlthough the sheriff’s department has seen an increase, the IU Police Department has not seen such statistics in its records. \n“IUPD has not seen a spike increase in crime.” IUPD Capt. Jerry Minger said.