Crime dropped by 12.5 percent during the first half of 2013 compared to the same period last year, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk announced.
“The hard work of the men and women of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and the willingness of our community to be our partner in safety are keeping Collier County a great place and a safe place,” Sheriff Rambosk said.
There were 2,527 crimes reported in unincorporated Collier County and Everglades City during the first half of 2013, according to preliminary numbers submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. That number is down from the 2,888 crimes reported during the first six months of 2012.
The statistics represent the categories of homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft.
Burglaries dropped by the greatest percentage, showing a 27.8 percent reduction from 699 in the first half of 2012 to 505 during the same period in 2013. Robberies were down 27.3 percent, from 88 to 64; sexual assaults dropped 18.9 percent, from 53 to 43; aggravated assaults were down 12.2 percent, from 271 to 238; and larcenies dropped by 7.2 percent, from 1,667 to 1,547.
Homicides held steady with two in the first six months of 2012 and 2013. Motor vehicle theft was the only category to see an increase, rising 18.5 percent from 108 in the first six months of 2012 to 120 during the same period this year.
Here are some of the ways citizens can help deputies drive crime down:
* Lock your car and keep valuables out of view
* Schedule a home or business security survey by a CCSO Crime Prevention specialist
* Report unusual activity to law enforcement
* Start or join a Neighborhood Watch program
* Mentor a child
* Be alert and aware of your surroundings
* Join one of CCSO’s Community Safety Teams to help address code enforcement and other problems at the neighborhood level
* Protect personal information like your Social Security number, computer passwords and banking information
* When online, don’t chat with strangers or respond to their e-mails
Click here to see the Part 1 crime numbers.
