Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The number of crimes reported in Sweet Home continued the upward trend of 2004, with more than 20 percent growth in thefts and more than 30 percent growth in burglaries, according to figures reported last week by the Sweet Home Police Department.
Criminal mischief, the third key crime tracked for trends by the department, also increased last year but not as dramatically.
From 2004 to 2005, the number of reported thefts increased from 459 to 596. The number of burglaries increased from 146 to 196. Criminal mischiefs increased from 177 to 192.
Of those burglaries, 125 were unlawful entry into a residence. Twenty were forcible entry into a residence. Of thefts, 169 were from motor vehicles, and 126 were bicycles. Thirty-three were shoplifting.
Sweet Home had 42 motor vehicle thefts, up from 36, but fewer aggravated assaults, 40, down from 51.
“I had told the budget commitee early in the year (2005) because of the call load, I really needed to add a police officer,” Police Chief Burford said. “Because of budget constraints, that wasn’t going to happen; and we had to (make) do one short of our authorized staff.”
Halfway through the calendar year, the department did hire a new officer, who spent much of the rest of the year in training, Burford said. That officer is now on the road, but another officer is anticipating going to another department.
The increases in theft and burglaries “are just a huge disregard for the property of others,” Burford said. Most of the thefts are from vehicles or bicycle thefts.
Police have arrested bicycle thieves who will steal three or four in a night, traveling on one bicycle until they find a better one, Burford said. “When one was stolen, another would be left.”
“The drug culture is a major, major impact on this (theft and burglary),” Burford said. “I can’t absolutely quantify it, but if you throw alcohol into the mix, I believe you’re moving upward of 90 percent in connectivity.
“The vast majority of thefts and burglaries are being used to support a drug habit; and we already know that many times when we catch someone in the act, they’re under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
“In this area, methamphetamine use is clearly on the rise; so, frankly, is the presense of narcotics use that we’re seeing in and around the high school.”
Burford said he is not connecting high school users with the thefts and burglaries, “but we’re seeing a much greater percentage of the younger people that are openly possessing or using narcotics in one form or another.”
Marijuana use has been the most common drug problem among teens, Burford said.
Methamphetamine users, he said, are responsible for a significant number of the crimes reported in the city.
“These people in the meth culture, when they want a fix, they want a fix; and that’s going to cost them 20 to 25 bucks,” Burford said. “They will go out and violate the sanctity of someone else’s property to obtain the money or property they can trade for that 25 bucks worth of dope.”
Overall, reported part one crimes increased from 703 to 885 from 2004 to 2005. Part one crimes include serious crimes, including murder, arson, aggravated assault, attempted murder, robbery, forcible rape and theft.
Among less serious part two crimes, Sweet Home had slightly fewer disorderly conduct reports, 88, down from 98. Drug offenses were down to 101 from 118. Driving under the influence was up to 43 from 38, and curfew violations were up to 25 from three.
Sweet Home had 30 forgeries, up from 20; but fraud was down to 22 from 43. Simple assault remained about even, 109, down from 110.
Liquor offenses, including 40 minor-in-possession reports, were up to 49 from 26.
Traffic offenses were down to 87 from 116, including 38 hit-and-run misdemeanors and felonies, and 23 driving while suspended misdemeanors.
Part two crimes were down to 1,819 from 1,951.
Police cleared 130 part one crimes, compared to 123 in 2004. Police cleared 1,237 part two crimes, down from 1,451.
Police had 7,214 part three calls, up from 6,831 in 2004. Part three calls include such calls as public assists; alarm, sex offender and bicycle registrations; traffic offenses; agency assists; death investigation; licensing; accidents and found property.