Sheriff Don Hunter is pleased to announce that reported crime in Collier County continues to decline.
For the first six months of 2008, the number of reported crimes has dropped 2 percent, compared to the same time frame in 2007, preliminary Sheriff's Office figures show.
For example, homicides dropped 70 percent, from 10 reported between January and June 2007 to three reported during that time period so far this year.
Sexual assaults dropped 23 percent, robberies decreased 7 percent, aggravated assaults dropped by 10 percent, burglaries by 13 percent and vehicle theft by 11 percent. Only larcenies, or thefts, increased.
Sheriff Hunter credited the Sheriff's Office partnerships with residents, business owners and the local chambers of commerce with helping crime decrease in our community. Deputies' dedication to keep our neighborhoods safe and our Agency's continued focus on targeting career criminals and gang members, for example, has also made a difference.
The Sheriff's Office's successful relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the 287g program has had a major impact in making Collier County safer. This program so far has removed around 700 criminal aliens. Those individuals who commit crimes, not only by being in our country illegally, but who victimize our residents will not be tolerated. Since most of these criminal aliens have an average of four felonies, they are committing crimes in our community.
Click here to see the attached document for more preliminary figures.
