Anyone else see an uptick in Violence and Crimes in their small towns?

[Mari333]

I live in a small small town of around 5000 people.

In the last month, just one month, we have had

1. one man killed and burned to death in his car in town by 2 of his 'friends'.

2. (the other night) 4 men clubbed a man til he was unconcious (police found one of the men hiding in a garage in my neighborhood)

3. last night a man was stabbed to death.

This is unbelievable. the last 'murder' in this town was decades ago.

Now 2 in one month, and a beating.

anyone else notice this? this is Michigan btw.

[daa]

1. according to the FBI crime is down

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-12837-US-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m6d3-Crime-rates-down-nationwide-FBI-reports

Here are the statistics for 2008.

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter decreased 4.4%
Aggravated assault decreased 3.2 %
Forcible rape decreased 2.2 %
Robbery decreased 1.1 %
Larceny thefts decreased 0.6%
Motor vehicle thefts decreased 13.1 %
Arson decreased 3.9%

[Mari333]

3. from the article.....

Cities where populations were less than 10,000 saw an increase of 5.5% of both murder and non-negligent manslaughter;

[Echo In Light]

8. Devil's always in the details

[Recursion]

10. Small towns generally have higher crime rates than cities

Cities get a bad rap because they have stranger-on-stranger crime, which terrifies people, but it's usually safer to live in a large city than a small town, statistically.

[Echo In Light]

14. That ought'a put those Nervous Nellie's at ease!

[Donnachaidh]

2. yup -- but it's NOT being reported -- have you noticed THAT too?

It's definitely happening here.

Yet we get the shiny happy Xmassy reporting about shopping for bargains.

[slackmaster]

4. If it's happening but not being reported, how are you hearing about it?

n/t

[Donnachaidh]

16. from neighbors who are having their homes broken into

Watches keep in contact in our area.

[Neecy]

5. Yes

I live in a town of 1200 and unemployment in my county is well above 10%. I've only lived here since April so I don't have firsthand knowledge, but everyone is concerned because home break-ins are through the roof. I have a neighbor who owns 3 rental homes and every one of them has been hit. They're not only stealing but vandalizing the properties as well.

It's the only real town in the county so the drifters living in the hills come here to steal stuff.

There was a murder earlier in the year between some meth heads, but that's the only violent crime that's happened here recently.

The police department of 2 is a joke. It's the county seat so the Sheriff's office is around and they aren't as bad as our cops.

Quite a culture change coming from the city.

[Mari333]

6. yes, a lot of break ins here also

more than usual
and just last week a man with a gun tried to rob a pizza joint here, and then accosted a motorist

a small town, a very small town. all of this happening within a mile or so of my home.

I suppose in large cities this is no big deal, happens a lot. but in this town it is unbelievable.

2 murders in one month is mind blowing.

[Neecy]

13. That's pretty scary

Just about everyone here owns a gun, or several, or many - this is deer country - and that's the biggest difference between urban and rural living that I've noticed. Couple lots of guns with desperate people and it could get ugly if the economy continues to tank in rural areas.

I don't worry about people here hitting our Pizza Hut and blowing us all away. In a town of 1200 everyone knows everyone, which is probably the best crime deterrent there is. But it's so isolated our local businesses might be a tempting target for someone passing through - plus we're right on the Oklahoma border, so it's a quick escape to another state.

There doesn't seem to be much stimulus for rural areas. Times are pretty hard for a lot of people down here.

[Mari333]

9. also I wonder if its happening where unemployment is highest

Our town took a lot of hits..the last factory closed (auto related) last summer and left 300 people out of jobs.
thats a huge blow. then, the utility rates increased by 20 percent.
I think that has a lot to do with it.

[cali]

7. Nope, not here in my village or close by town.

[murielm99]

11. Yes.

There were thirty-three break-ins here during a very short time period. Several businesses were broken into more than once. There are 2500 people in my community.

They caught one group of burglars, but there is another one operating now. There have been some break-ins while people were home, but in another part of the house or napping.

Many people here do not lock their doors. Even our mayor had to get his front door fixed up with a new lock and key. He has never been able to find the old key.

I remember a similar period of crime here during the eighties. There were no murders, but there were many robberies and some assaults. It was another period of high unemployment. I don't know how we will find a way back this time. In the eighties, businesses were not hiring. Now, many of the large employers have left the area permanently.

[Mari333]

12. Well, then, its unemployment

and a huge number of factors..people drinking or doing illegal drugs to down their sorrows, cant make ends meet, resort to violence, etc etc

no hope, I guess.

I dont lock my doors either, but I am going to start.

add: why would anyone unrec this thread? bad news is bad news, get over it people.

[murielm99]

15. It's the unemployment, but it is drugs as well.

During the eighties when we had a similar crime wave, there was a lot of cocaine in town. Now I think it is meth. Maybe unemployment leads to drug abuse. People are in despair, and they have too much time on their hands. Drug dealing is easy money for those with nothing else.

[B Calm]

17. My credit union was robbed last week. First time we had that happen.

[bvar22]

18. Yes....but no murders or violent attacks yet.

The closest town (20 miles) has about 4,000.
Break-Ins and Theft sharply rising, as are DUI.

I actually locked the front door for a trip to town yesterday, and then laughed when I got in the truck.
There is an ax and a sledge hammer (for splitting fire wood) leaning against the wall beside the front door.