Fewer serious crimes reported this year

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle saw fewer incidents of most serious crimes except burglaries, according to statistics released last week.
Fewer rapes, robberies, assaults, larceny and motor vehicle thefts were reported in Hartselle in 2006 than in 2005. The number of burglaries was up, however, from 45 in 2005 to 54 in 2006.
The statistics were part of the annual report from the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
Overall, Hartselle reported one homicide, one rape, one robbery, six assaults, 263 thefts and 11 auto thefts in 2006. Hartselle Police cleared 100 percent of the homicides, robberies and assault charges. Those figures are significantly lower than most cities of similar size. Other clearance rates were: 45 percent of auto burglaries; 31 percent of larceny incidents; and 15 percent of burglary cases. Those rates were higher or equal to the state average, where law enforcement agencies cleared 37 percent of violent crimes and 15 percent of all property crimes.
The report also included statistics for Falkville, Somerville, Priceville, Decatur and Morgan County. Those figures included:
The overall volume of arrests in Alabama, including those for assaults, other violent crimes and property crimes, decreased at rates higher than the national average during 2006. The state did see an increase in the number of robberies, homicides and motor vehicle thefts in the last year.