Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Crime rate drops in Blaine County

2006 continues 5-year decline in serious offenses

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By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

The crime rate in Blaine County dropped 8 percent in 2006, continuing a five-year trend in the decline of serious offenses, Idaho State Police reported last week.

The decline in Blaine County was 10 times greater than a statewide decline in serious offenses, which dropped only 0.8 percent, according to the 2006 Crime in Idaho Report issued by the ISP Bureau of Criminal Identification.

The report showed a total of 689 "Group A" offenses reported in Blaine County in 2006, down from 749 the previous year, and down from a five-year high of 1,055 reported in 2002. Group A offenses are defined as "crimes against persons, property or society."

Of the 2006 Group A offenses in Blaine County, 239, or 34.7 percent, were reported as "cleared."

Larceny, with 177 incidents, led the county's 2006 list for the type of crime reported most often. Second was vandalism with 148 reports and third was simple assault at 109.

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Illegal drug related charges, including possession of drugs or drug equipment, accounted for 91 reported offenses in the county in 2006.

Consistent with the downward trend in crime, the number of arrests was also down last year in Blaine County. ISP reported 775 arrests in the county in 2006, down 10.4 percent from 2005 when 865 arrests were made. The report states that 1,074 arrests were made in Blaine County in 2002.