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A closer look at crime numbers in DeKalb

Although some stats appear high from the last two weeks, police said violent crime is down in most categories.

The website CrimeMapping.com is showing what appears to be an uptick in crime in Dekalb County. There have been seven reported sex crimes, 23 robberies and 317 assaults between May 30 to June 5. This could sound alarming, so 11Alive took a closer look at the numbers.

Major A.T. Mears with the Dekalb County Police Department put the numbers into perspective.

“Right now we are seeing an increase in homicides. Overall, our violent crime is down 10 percent,” said Mears.

Although some stats are high from the last two weeks, he said violent crime is down in most categories.

“We have a 19 percent reduction in our property crime which is burglary, entering autos and larceny. As far as the rape cases, we're almost even with where we were last year, but we're clearing those at a 54 percent rate as opposed to the national rate which is 36,” Mears added.

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He said the slight increase in homicides and the five additional sex assault cases over last year have one main factor in common.

“That's the biggest reason I think our homicides are up is the risky behavior we're seeing,” said Mears.

He said most of the victims were involved in crimes themselves.

"And what I mean by that, is that vices like sex and prostitution, drugs, alcohol and doing robberies, you put yourself in situations where you become a victim of crime and we're seeing a lot of that,” Mears said.

He also said the average Dekalb County resident is not at a high risk of being harmed by a complete stranger. 

“We're around 60 percent of people knew their assailant," Mears added.

He also said often times when there is an uptick in violent crime, like int he past two weeks, there's a direct correlation to turf wars and gang violence.




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