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Crime climbs 18.2% in first half of 2006
A spike in property crimes sent the figure soaring, the FDLE reports.
By JOHN FRANK
Published October 19, 2006
INVERNESS - The number of violent crimes and property crimes in Citrus County during the first six months of 2006 jumped 18.2 percent - one of the largest increases in the state, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported earlier this week. The increase stands in contrast to the slight decrease of 0.3 percent in crime statewide. It also reverses a two-year downward trend in the county. A total of 1,595 crimes were reported from January through June of this year compared with 1,349 during the same period last year. Only five other Florida counties reported larger percentage increases in crime. The higher figures were primarily a result of a spike in the number of property crimes, such as break-ins, vehicle thefts and larceny. The number of reported vehicle thefts increased from 70 to 81, and larceny went from 818 to 1,036, according to the report. Last month, Sheriff Jeff Dawsy acknowledged that his department "didn't do a good job in the first six months" of this year. He said patrol changes were made and called upon residents to help by making sure they locked their doors. Violent crimes did not increase drastically for the six-month period, with forcible rapes up from 10 to 14, aggravated assaults up from 165 to 169 and robberies decreasing from 12 to 11, the FDLE said. Also, no murders were reported in the first half of the year, compared with three last year. Even through October, the county has yet to see a murder investigation. The crime figures put pressure on Dawsy's office. Crime handled by the Sheriff's Office increased 23 percent while incidents in the jurisdiction of the Crystal River Police Department went down about 9 percent. Crystal River reported 202 incidents in the first half of last year and 184 during that time period this year. John Frank can be reached at jfrank@sptimes.com or 860-7312. FAST FACTS Crime statistics County Crimes in first half of '05 Crimes in first half of '06 % Change Citrus 1,349 1,595 18.2 Pasco 7,199 8,354 16 Hernando 2,826 3,082 9.1 Hillsborough 30,275 30,510 0.8 Pinellas 23,648 22,683 -4.1
[Last modified October 19, 2006, 06:23:08]
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