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Arrests on the rise in Fairburn

By BEN NELMS
bnelms@TheCitizenNews.com

Crime and traffic accidents in Fairburn are down and arrests are up. Statistics comparing year-to-date totals for July 2004 and 2005 show index crimes such as aggravated assault, burglary and theft down 11 percent and arrests up 66 percent while traffic accidents are down eight percent in the city’s top seven crash areas.

Though down for the year-to-date reporting period, index crimes increased 13 percent during July 2005 compared to July 2004. The increase came as a result of two robberies in July compared to one a year ago, 40 incidents of theft compared to 36 in July 2004 and two cases of aggravated assault compared to none during the same period. Year-to-date totals for all index crimes show a total of 340 offenses in 2005 compared to 381 for the same period last year. Total index crimes in 2004 numbered 644.

Arrests so far in 2005 continue to show a substantial increase over 2004. The 66 percent increase amounts to 375 arrests year-to-date through July compared to 226 arrests during the same period last year. Computational categories used to track arrests include property, person, ordinances and other violations.

Arrest totals comparing July 2005 to July 2004 showed a 17 percent increase. Property arrests decreased by nine percent during the comparison period while arrests for crimes against others remained the same. Arrests for ordinance violations increased from 20 in July 2004 to 27 in July 2005, or 35 percent. Arrests for other violations increased from 12 in July 2004 to 15 in July 2005, or 25 percent.

Year-to-date totals reflect large increases in arrests over last year. Property arrests are up 57 percent, crimes against others increased 74 percent, ordinance violations increased 61 percent and arrests for other violations were up 76 percent.

Vehicle crashes in Fairburn’s seven most volatile traffic accident areas continued their months-long decrease despite increasing numbers of vehicles on the road. A total of seven accidents were logged in July compared to 10 one year ago, representing a 30 percent decrease. Year-to-date totals showed an eight percent decrease over 2004 with 101 accidents in 2004 compared to 93 this year.

The city’s top seven accident areas include U.S. Highway 29 at Ga. Highway 138, Ga. Highway 74 at I-85, Hwy. 74 at Oakley Industrial Boulevard, Hwy. 74 at Milam Road, Hwy. 74 at Meadow Glenn, Hwy. 74 at Senoia Road and Hudson Plaza.