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Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
County and state see dip in crime
Posted by:
Loudoun County News
()
Date: August 11, 2011 12:25PM
County and state see dip in crime
Wednesday Aug. 10 by Matt Vecchio
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/county_and_state_see_dip_in_crime123/
Despite a souring economy, crime is down in Loudoun County and throughout the commonwealth.
In 2010, Virginia residents benefited from the state’s lowest crime tally, in terms of criminal arrests, since 2003, according to the Virginia State Police Bureau of Field Operations.
State troopers made a total of 21,086 criminal arrests in 2010, a 1,627-arrest deficit from the prior year and 3,042 less than in 2008.
In fact, crime across the board was down, as State Police made nearly 26,000 less traffic arrests and charged nearly 1,000 less people with driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
Loudoun crime is down as well, as data from the county Sheriff’s Office revealed that crime dropped 3.7 percent between 2009 and 2010, a total of 274 less crimes.
Part of crime’s drop off may be due to improved technology.
“The agency continues to find ways to better identify and target problem areas in the county. One measure we have taken in the past year is to invest in improved crime analysis technology to help better identify and solve problems of concern,” said Kraig Troxell, spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. “This technology, along with the approach of problem-solving policing, allows deputies to target the areas where crime is an issue with the ultimate goal of solving the problem.”
Troxell also said the effects of community involvement in a concentrated crime-stropping effort trickle upward.
“Problem-solving policing also includes partnering with the community to address quality of life issues that often lead to criminal activity.”
Eyes on the road
Drivers may be more aware this year as well — state police investigated 2,000 less crashes, a possible side effect of tougher state programs to target impaired driving and seat belt usage.
The Virginia State Police created an enforcement plan in July 2006 called Operation Air, Land and Speed to combat the increase in fatal crashes on Virginia’s interstates and roadways.
In 2010, State Police conducted nine two-day phases of the operation, resulting in more than 41,000 tickets given out on major Virginia interstates. No fatalities occurred during these dates.
Throughout the last decade, reported seat belt usage has jumped more than 13 percent to the 80.5 percent recorded in 2010. During the May Click-it-or-Ticket State Police program, motorists received 1,801 summonses for failure to wear seat belts.
Loudoun lockdown
While Virginia as a whole has seen a decrease in crimes across the board, Loudoun County has enjoyed similar crime drop-offs so far this year.
The latest released data from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which runs through May 31, dictates that, countywide, there have been 279 less crimes from January to May in 2011 than in the year prior. When comparing to the same month period in 2009, there have been 669 less crimes — a significant decrease when you consider that between January and May of this year, there have been a total of 3,137 reported crimes.
Aggravated assault cases are down 22 percent this year, and burglary cases are down 35 percent. However, there has been a 36 percent increase in robbery so far during the months highlighted, and a single homicide — there were none reported during the January to May period last year.
Alcohol charges have mostly dropped off, including drunk in public (down 21.8 percent) and DUIs (down 11.1 percent). Destruction of property has also lowered 5 percent, and sexual assaults are down 23.5 percent.
In terms of areas of Loudoun, sectors are down across the board with two exceptions — Dulles South has seen a sharp increase in the number of reported crimes due to a vast increase in square mileage allotted to the sector, and western Loudoun crime has picked up, recording 16 more cases than in 2009 and 43 more crimes than in 2010.
Troxell attributes the drop in crime in part to the addition of Sheriff’s Office stations throughout the county — one was added in eastern Loudoun and one in Dulles South.
“This has greatly enhanced our presence in our communities by reducing the travel time of deputies. Prior to the opening of these stations, deputies would have to travel back and forth to Leesburg to our administrative office, taking them away from patrolling the area they are assigned to,” Troxell said. “Keeping the deputies in their assigned sectors increases their presence, which is a great deterrent for criminals. We look forward to opening stations in central and western Loudoun in the near future.”
The Sheriff’s Office turned a total of 225 suspected illegal aliens over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, from January to May, and 61 illegal aliens were held locally on ICE detainers as of May 31.
Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson was happy with the reports — crediting his deputies for the reduction in crime.
“I am proud of the work done by our deputies,” Simpson said. “This is the result of very dedicated and professional law enforcement officers who give everything they have everyday. They are why Loudoun County remains one of the safest communities in the country.”
Road hazard
Nearly 45 percent of vehicle crashes reported by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office from January to May have occurred in eastern Loudoun — out of a countywide total 2,291 crashes.
Similarly, the area has become a hotbed for tickets, as Sheriff’s deputies issued 4,349 (39 percent of Loudoun’s 11,141 citations) in eastern Loudoun.
Second on both lists is central Loudoun, and Dulles South came in third on both lists. Between January and May, the Sheriff’s Office worked a total of four fatal crashes.
The intersection of Waxpool Road and Loudoun County Parkway was the place to avoid from January to May — tallying 35 crashes during that period, the highest in the county. The Route 7 and Potomac View Road intersection was a close second, as 34 separate crashes occurred there.
Economies of scale
A common conception is that when the economy suffers, crime goes up.
In 2009, the Police Executive Research Forum found that 44 percent of 233 agencies surveyed reported spikes in crime related to the worsening economy. Of those, 39 percent reported an increase in robberies, 32 percent an increase in burglaries and 40 percent said there were more thefts.
To make matters worse, 63 percent of the surveyed agencies reported they were bracing for funding cuts.
Somehow, in Virginia that hasn’t been the case — for now.
“The fact that crime has gone down in the region and across the country has taken many in law enforcement by surprise,” Troxell said. “Typically, in a down economy, you expect a rise in crime as people become more desperate.”
But, with only half the year accounted for, there are still plenty of opportunities for crime to rise. In the past week, the stock market has taken numerous huge point hits and Standard and Poor downgraded the United States economy to AA+ after nearly a century of a perfect AAA rating — which could effect interest rates soon. Only time will tell how people will react if the situation becomes more dire.
Troxell noted that we aren’t out of hot water yet.
“There still remains a concern among the law enforcement community that as the economy continues to struggle, serious crime will rise.”
On the lookout
A large factor in the reduced crime rate has been community involvement, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“We are very grateful to have a very engaged community who are willing to take extra steps to ensure their neighborhood is safe,” Troxell said. “There are over 60,000 subscribers to the Alert Loudoun System, and we have more Neighborhood Watch groups than ever before in the county.”
Despite Loudoun’s reduced crime numbers, the Sheriff’s Office urges the communities to keep contributing.
“County residents want to know what is happening in their neighborhood, and we believe that a well-informed community makes us a safer community,” Troxell said. “Two recent cases let us know the community is listening. Information provided by residents helped us identify and arrest suspects in a series of parcel thefts in Ashburn as well as the attempted robberies of two McDonald’s restaurants in the Sterling area.”
Troxell said Loudouners should keep their eyes open.
“We want to again remind residents to be the best witnesses they can be and that they know their communities best. If they see something or someone that is out of the ordinary in their neighborhood, report it.”
Wednesday Aug. 10 by Matt Vecchio
http://www.loudountimes.com/index.php/news/article/county_and_state_see_dip_in_crime123/
Despite a souring economy, crime is down in Loudoun County and throughout the commonwealth.
In 2010, Virginia residents benefited from the state’s lowest crime tally, in terms of criminal arrests, since 2003, according to the Virginia State Police Bureau of Field Operations.
State troopers made a total of 21,086 criminal arrests in 2010, a 1,627-arrest deficit from the prior year and 3,042 less than in 2008.
In fact, crime across the board was down, as State Police made nearly 26,000 less traffic arrests and charged nearly 1,000 less people with driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
Loudoun crime is down as well, as data from the county Sheriff’s Office revealed that crime dropped 3.7 percent between 2009 and 2010, a total of 274 less crimes.
Part of crime’s drop off may be due to improved technology.
“The agency continues to find ways to better identify and target problem areas in the county. One measure we have taken in the past year is to invest in improved crime analysis technology to help better identify and solve problems of concern,” said Kraig Troxell, spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. “This technology, along with the approach of problem-solving policing, allows deputies to target the areas where crime is an issue with the ultimate goal of solving the problem.”
Troxell also said the effects of community involvement in a concentrated crime-stropping effort trickle upward.
“Problem-solving policing also includes partnering with the community to address quality of life issues that often lead to criminal activity.”
Eyes on the road
Drivers may be more aware this year as well — state police investigated 2,000 less crashes, a possible side effect of tougher state programs to target impaired driving and seat belt usage.
The Virginia State Police created an enforcement plan in July 2006 called Operation Air, Land and Speed to combat the increase in fatal crashes on Virginia’s interstates and roadways.
In 2010, State Police conducted nine two-day phases of the operation, resulting in more than 41,000 tickets given out on major Virginia interstates. No fatalities occurred during these dates.
Throughout the last decade, reported seat belt usage has jumped more than 13 percent to the 80.5 percent recorded in 2010. During the May Click-it-or-Ticket State Police program, motorists received 1,801 summonses for failure to wear seat belts.
Loudoun lockdown
While Virginia as a whole has seen a decrease in crimes across the board, Loudoun County has enjoyed similar crime drop-offs so far this year.
The latest released data from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which runs through May 31, dictates that, countywide, there have been 279 less crimes from January to May in 2011 than in the year prior. When comparing to the same month period in 2009, there have been 669 less crimes — a significant decrease when you consider that between January and May of this year, there have been a total of 3,137 reported crimes.
Aggravated assault cases are down 22 percent this year, and burglary cases are down 35 percent. However, there has been a 36 percent increase in robbery so far during the months highlighted, and a single homicide — there were none reported during the January to May period last year.
Alcohol charges have mostly dropped off, including drunk in public (down 21.8 percent) and DUIs (down 11.1 percent). Destruction of property has also lowered 5 percent, and sexual assaults are down 23.5 percent.
In terms of areas of Loudoun, sectors are down across the board with two exceptions — Dulles South has seen a sharp increase in the number of reported crimes due to a vast increase in square mileage allotted to the sector, and western Loudoun crime has picked up, recording 16 more cases than in 2009 and 43 more crimes than in 2010.
Troxell attributes the drop in crime in part to the addition of Sheriff’s Office stations throughout the county — one was added in eastern Loudoun and one in Dulles South.
“This has greatly enhanced our presence in our communities by reducing the travel time of deputies. Prior to the opening of these stations, deputies would have to travel back and forth to Leesburg to our administrative office, taking them away from patrolling the area they are assigned to,” Troxell said. “Keeping the deputies in their assigned sectors increases their presence, which is a great deterrent for criminals. We look forward to opening stations in central and western Loudoun in the near future.”
The Sheriff’s Office turned a total of 225 suspected illegal aliens over to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, from January to May, and 61 illegal aliens were held locally on ICE detainers as of May 31.
Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson was happy with the reports — crediting his deputies for the reduction in crime.
“I am proud of the work done by our deputies,” Simpson said. “This is the result of very dedicated and professional law enforcement officers who give everything they have everyday. They are why Loudoun County remains one of the safest communities in the country.”
Road hazard
Nearly 45 percent of vehicle crashes reported by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office from January to May have occurred in eastern Loudoun — out of a countywide total 2,291 crashes.
Similarly, the area has become a hotbed for tickets, as Sheriff’s deputies issued 4,349 (39 percent of Loudoun’s 11,141 citations) in eastern Loudoun.
Second on both lists is central Loudoun, and Dulles South came in third on both lists. Between January and May, the Sheriff’s Office worked a total of four fatal crashes.
The intersection of Waxpool Road and Loudoun County Parkway was the place to avoid from January to May — tallying 35 crashes during that period, the highest in the county. The Route 7 and Potomac View Road intersection was a close second, as 34 separate crashes occurred there.
Economies of scale
A common conception is that when the economy suffers, crime goes up.
In 2009, the Police Executive Research Forum found that 44 percent of 233 agencies surveyed reported spikes in crime related to the worsening economy. Of those, 39 percent reported an increase in robberies, 32 percent an increase in burglaries and 40 percent said there were more thefts.
To make matters worse, 63 percent of the surveyed agencies reported they were bracing for funding cuts.
Somehow, in Virginia that hasn’t been the case — for now.
“The fact that crime has gone down in the region and across the country has taken many in law enforcement by surprise,” Troxell said. “Typically, in a down economy, you expect a rise in crime as people become more desperate.”
But, with only half the year accounted for, there are still plenty of opportunities for crime to rise. In the past week, the stock market has taken numerous huge point hits and Standard and Poor downgraded the United States economy to AA+ after nearly a century of a perfect AAA rating — which could effect interest rates soon. Only time will tell how people will react if the situation becomes more dire.
Troxell noted that we aren’t out of hot water yet.
“There still remains a concern among the law enforcement community that as the economy continues to struggle, serious crime will rise.”
On the lookout
A large factor in the reduced crime rate has been community involvement, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“We are very grateful to have a very engaged community who are willing to take extra steps to ensure their neighborhood is safe,” Troxell said. “There are over 60,000 subscribers to the Alert Loudoun System, and we have more Neighborhood Watch groups than ever before in the county.”
Despite Loudoun’s reduced crime numbers, the Sheriff’s Office urges the communities to keep contributing.
“County residents want to know what is happening in their neighborhood, and we believe that a well-informed community makes us a safer community,” Troxell said. “Two recent cases let us know the community is listening. Information provided by residents helped us identify and arrest suspects in a series of parcel thefts in Ashburn as well as the attempted robberies of two McDonald’s restaurants in the Sterling area.”
Troxell said Loudouners should keep their eyes open.
“We want to again remind residents to be the best witnesses they can be and that they know their communities best. If they see something or someone that is out of the ordinary in their neighborhood, report it.”
Re: County and state see dip in crime
Posted by:
Concerned Parents
()
Date: September 08, 2011 08:36AM
This seems hard to believe with all the increases in crime over the past few months, mainly by illegals or Spanish immigrants.