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Report confirms crime is down across Collier County
Related Documents
- Read Collier's numbers in the 2008 Semi-Annual Uniform Crime Report (.pdf)
Read Collier's numbers in the 2008 Semi-Annual Uniform Crime Report (.pdf)
- Read the 2008 Semi-Annual Crime in Florida Report (.pdf)
- Read the 2008 Semi-Annual Arrest Totals Comparative Data (.pdf)
- Read the 2008 Semi-Annual County and Municipal Offense Data (.pdf)
- Read the 2008 Semi-Annual Arrest Totals by Age and Sex (.pdf)
- Read the 2008 Semi-Annual Statewide County Report (.pdf)
- Read the 2008 Semi-Annual County and Municipal Arrest Data (.pdf)
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NAPLES — Despite a sluggish economy, crime continues to decrease in Collier County.
On Wednesday, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office released official crime statistics for the first six months of 2008, updating preliminary numbers released in August and confirming a decrease in crime when compared to the same period in 2007.
“We’re going in the right direction,” Sheriff Don Hunter said. “The trend is correct. It’s a good trend. As I’ve said before, we’re never happy with crimes occurring in our jurisdiction.”
The number of part 1 crimes — violent crimes and property crimes — reported in the Sheriff’s Office’s jurisdiction dropped two percent, from 3,232 in the first six months of 2007 to 3,167 during the same period in 2008. Those numbers are identical to the preliminary numbers the Sheriff’s Office released in August.
Countywide, including areas under the jurisdiction of the Naples and Marco Island police departments, the number of reported crimes dropped by 1.3 percent, from 3,747 through the first six months of 2007 to 3,698 during the first six months of 2008.
The number of reported crimes countywide decreased or stayed the same in five of the seven categories.
The number of homicides reported in the first six months of the year dropped from 10 in 2007 to three in 2008, robberies decreased from 142 to 134, aggravated assaults decreased from 560 to 493, burglaries decreased from 753 to 651, and motor vehicle thefts dropped from 199 to 178.
Sexual assaults remained the same, with 31 reported through both the first six months of 2007 and 2008. Larcenies increased from 2,052 in 2007 to 2,208 in 2008, reports said.
“Larceny is one of the most difficult to predict and get a true sense of because its the taking of anything of value,” Hunter said. “It’s shoplifting candy or beer at a nominal level. It could be a golf club taken out of a golf bag, someone’s expensive pen taken off their desk. ... Those things are all larcenies. It’s purely a matter of opportunity.”
Through 2007, part 1 crimes have decreased in Collier County every year for the past six years. However, Hunter said he believes one reason larcenies are up is because more people are choosing to report them.
Though he is happy with the most recent statistics, Hunter said things could change because of the souring economy.
The Sheriff’s Office has had to tighten its belt in recent years because of declining property values, and thus declining revenue. Hunter requested a $150 million budget for 2009, about $3 million less than the Collier Sheriff’s Office’s 2008 budget and about $10 million less than his original request for 2008.
“On the horizon it looks pretty dire because of the reduced revenue streams and, therefore, restricted resources,” Hunter said. “I’d say by the end of next year we may see some new trends if we don’t get ahead of the resource restriction issue.”
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The last paragraph of the article says it all. So much for illegal entry on the basis of finding work to provide for their families. Since neither presidential candidate is going to stop the flow of illegals, the CCSO is going to have to round em' up and send em' back. Sad part is that they will be back before you know it.
#1 Posted by Carpetbagger on October 15, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So does this mean the Sheriff's Department will be implementing a hiring freeze?
#2 Posted by naples4kids on October 15, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Crime sats are low because if you live on bayshore (Example) and residents call in burglaries the county just won't take the reports only in gated communities how about
Auto Theft what a joke they just don't input your stolen vehicle information anyone who has had a car stolen lately you might want to get a report and see if it was entered or how long it may have took. Homicides no records they disappear from the back of patrol cars
#3 Posted by zzcoupe on October 15, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Its low because THEY (CCSO) only reports what it wants. The crime is still there. There is just no purpose in calling the CCSO. When they do make a move, they arrest the wrong people or screw up the case so bad, even the right person gets off. This is just political garbage trying to show Hunter is leaving a clean county, like he did something. Yeah, right. The crime is still here, they are just too ignorant to see it. Protect yourselves, they dont know how.
#4 Posted by ccso_id on October 15, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#4 - whats the right word for you?...oh I know dumb and stupid. Oops sorry that's two words but they both fit you oh so well.
#5 Posted by factteller1 on October 15, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A decrease in crime reports does not correlate linearly with a decrease in crime. Don Hunter is misrepresenting the statistics with wording that praises his efforts as if they were directly responsible for reducing crime. That crime is still there; it just so happens that the reporting went down.
As you can see, the statistics can be interpreted much differently than what is normally portrayed by those who hold personal interest in their careers for painting positive outcomes on services that deal primarily with something negative (whew). At some point, I will begin to question whether certain reports were being rejected or ignored to produce the beneficial statistics in question. In addition, some people are unable to report crimes, such as those illegal immigrants who dare not come forward for fear of deportation; maybe the intimidation factor should be reflected in the glorification reporting from this department.
Also, it sounds to me like citing the cut funding to ASSIST makes it easier to cast blame at the school district for a rise in crime should that happen in the future. As was expressed in Hunter's concerns, unsupervised juveniles are the cause of crime and whose blame cannot be due to the lack of activities provided for students forced into OSS-only punishment; better to butter up your résumés.
On a positive note, those figures on homicides look promising; let's hope they continue to drop as violent offenders continue to be removed from the streets.
#6 Posted by Vapur9 on October 15, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you #6, I dont believe the stat reports at all, and yes we also have to remember many people are moving out of Naples now because of loosing their homes or jobs so Im sure that helps the stat sheets. Crime is still all over Naples though, but we only hear what they want us too. More covering up only in Collier County.
#7 Posted by jerseychic on October 15, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Decrease in crime, thats funny!!! Look at the arrest log everyday. What is he looking at the statistics from the early 1990's. C'mon be for real everyone knows how things get sweeped under the rug and they only let us know about the things they want or accidentally get out. If people only knew they would be shocked!!!Dont believe everything you read people. This is no longer the town where you can leave your doors unlocked or walk down streets by yourself at night without wondering if your going to get robbed. Crime is all over here it doesnt matter what part of Naples you live in, and decreased yeh, right!
#8 Posted by citygirl on October 15, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm crime down, but felony murders up? Murder Sunday night in downtown Naples? Jewelry store robbery at Ava Maria with zero suspects?
Sorry to say but no silver lining to this story. It still gets worse from here.
#9 Posted by Jadip811 on October 15, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Perhaps you folks would rather live in Fort Myers or Miami where they have shootings and robberies almost every night of the week.
It's obvious your hatred for CCSO has left you with a huge bias and unable to comprehend some good news.
If the crime rate is to high for some of you folks and your afraid to walk your dogs at night I know some prime real estate in the Dunbar section of Lee County or perhaps Hialeah is to your liking.
With how bad things are right now we are not doing all that bad. Oh and by the way to my old friend Jadip I do not believe the stat’s for the City of Naples count towards the County. But I could be wrong.
Everybody has an opinion BUT NO FACTS!
#10 Posted by factteller1 on October 15, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The CCSO plays with the stats always has always will. They spin the numbers to make themselves look good.
#11 Posted by diamondgrl on October 15, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#10,I'd rather walk my dog in Jersey than in some parts of Naples. So you say we arent doing bad now, I am sure we are but again much is covered up, and it's been like this for years now. The people who haved lived here for along time know what time it is w/ this department. Many things tht happen here the public doesnt know about, lets get real. At least the citizens of Collier County deserve to know the truth about where they are living and when we do find out things its months later. I call that trying to hide things, but hey thats my opinion and Im sure many other people feel the same.
#12 Posted by jerseychic on October 15, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I see the still angry Vic O supporters ZZ, ID and Dgrl are still stinging from their loss and make stupid, unsubstantiated posts. If they really had a clue they might be embarrassed. The truth is if anything they state was true, the Sheriff would be indicted.
#13 Posted by GeeRide on October 15, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jerseychic and diamongrl.... If there is sooo much stuff going on and it's not reported, bring it out to light. I think us other locals would like to hear the problems and cover ups that are going on. Back your statements with facts. If you can't, then stop with the scuttlebutt.
#14 Posted by Parkmeister on October 15, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#14, Hate to shatter your idea that everything is great but just listen open your eyes and do some investigating on your own and believe me you will come to the same conclusion. You will realize that all these people arent just talking for no reason. I dated a cop for awhile and I know for a fact things get covered up.
#15 Posted by jerseychic on October 15, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#15- What happened? Did you get jilted by that cop? Maybe he had enough of your stupidity and ignorance.
You also seem like the type that would never stop complaining. He probably wised up and said see ya!
Maybe that is why you are so miserable.
#16 Posted by factteller1 on October 15, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am going to assume that Factteller1 and GeeRide are on the CCSO COMMAND BLOG TEAM. Or UNDER THE DESK KNEE POLITICAL WORKERS . You two seem very defensive against everyone you also must have something to hide
#17 Posted by zzcoupe on October 16, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#10 Posted by factteller1
Been away for a few days. I think Naples is still inside Collier County. But you might be right NPD anbd CCSO probably do keep separate statistics...
Shouldn't they both be combined for a grand total for ALL of Naples?
#18 Posted by Jadip811 on October 19, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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