January 22, 2009 Issue
Year-End Crime Statistics: Boone PD
The year-end crime summary provided by the Boone Police Department includes only the crimes or incidents that are reported to the police. The State of North Carolina will release official crime statistics for the year in several months.
Several items from 2008 are worthy of note.
Tragically, there was a murder in Boone in 2008—the first murder in Boone in more than three years. A suspect has been arrested and is awaiting trial.
Four rapes were reported in Boone in 2008, an increase over 2007, but in line with the numbers usually reported in a year. The Boone Police Department strongly encourages young women to monitor their alcohol consumption at gatherings and never leave a drink unattended. It is also a good idea to have a sober friend there to help watch over them.
At 8, the number of robberies is the highest in years. Several of these were purse snatchings, where a suspect grabbed a woman’s purse as she walked through a parking lot. The police encourage women to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Along those lines, many residential and vehicle break-ins occur when cars or apartments are unlocked. The department asks Boone residents to please lock doors.
DWI arrests are down, and Boone had the lowest level of DWI-related crashes in several years. DWI continues to be an area of emphasis for the department.
Concerning these crime statistics, Chief of Police Bill Post said, “The murder this year was a tragedy for the town. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the department go out to the Roberts family. That crime, like many others, could not have been solved without the police and community partnership. The men and women of the department cherish our close ties to the community and appreciate the continued support from Boone residents.”
Year-End Crime Statistics: Watauga County Sheriff’s Office
Several items from the 2008 Watauga County Sheriff’s Office year-end summary are worthy of note.
Tragically, there was a murder in Watauga County in 2008. A suspect has been arrested and is awaiting trial.
No rapes were reported to the Sheriff’s Office last year. As in Boone, robbery was up, but not by as much. The Sheriff’s Office reported three robberies in 2008.
Burglary, motor vehicle theft and motor vehicle breaking and entering were down, as well as vandalism and property damage. However, Watauga County had six cases of arson in 2008, two more than in 2007.
Foreclosure notices were up significantly, increasing by 307 compared to 2007. Similarly, deputies served more criminal papers in 2008 than they did in 2007, an increase of 130.
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