3rd quarter crime up a little from 2nd quarter, a lot from last year

Blame it on skewed stats from Katrina, says sheriff

Sheriff Greg Champagne reports that crime in St. Charles Parish during the third quarter of 2006 rose nearly 2 percent when compared to this year’s second quarter, and 12 percent when compared to last year’s third quarter.

“Realistically we have had a slight increase in crime, but the records show that this is the lowest third quarter in 11 years,” said Champagne.

“The crime statistics from last year’s third quarter are lower because many of our residents had yet to return after Hurricane Katrina,” he continued.

“We had more officers on patrol and our parish was under a dusk to dawn curfew.”

During the third quarter of 2006, 620 incidents were reported July through September in the seven major crime categories, compared to 609 incidents during the second quarter and 512 incidents for the first quarter.

The FBI compiles crime statistics in the following categories: murder, robbery, rape, burglary, assault, larceny theft and auto theft.

Champagne said that incidents of crime are scattered across the parish, but traditionally certain areas that are more crime ridden than others.

Last year the Sheriff’s office reported 389 in August and September, compared with 381 during these two months this year and 454 in 2004.

There was a 4 percent increase from 2005 for the first nine months of this year totaling 1,741 crimes.

Other crimes reported center around vehicle and all-terrain vehicle thefts.

The parish has endured a total of three murders.

The last two incidents occurred in October and will be included in the fourth quarter crime statistics.