Like all the areas in South Fulton County, the population of Fairburn is growing. The city added nearly 1,000 residents to its population in 2005 but the crime rate through November showed a zero percent increase over the same period during 2004.

Year-to-date reported crimes through November totaled 599, Chief Charles Long told council members Dec. 12. that figure was even more significant, he said, because reported crimes during 2004 increased 18 percent over 2003.

“If we could decrease the gas drive-offs we could really reduce our crime rate,” Long said, explaining the magnitude of offenses. A full 21 percent of all reported crimes in 2005 through November, a total of 123, resulted from gas drive-offs.

The number of arrests continued to show an increase through November over the same period last year. Year-to-date arrests for 2004 numbered 425 compared to 609 for the same period in 2005, a 43 percent increase, Long said.

Traffic crashes in the city’s top seven accident areas increased 18 percent year-to-date compared to the same period in 2004. Of the seven highest traffic accident intersections, five are located along the rapidly growing Ga. Highway 74 Corridor. Accidents at Hwy. 74 and Senoia Road showed a 300 percent increase during the period, with three accidents occurring year-to-date in 2004 compared to 12 accidents during the same period in 2005. Accidents at Hwy. 74 and Oakley Industrial Boulevard increased 38 percent over the same period last year and an increase of 29 percent was seen at Hwy. 74 and Milam Road. Accidents at Hwy. 74 and Meadow Glen decreased significantly, from 14 during the November reporting period to four in 2005, a 71 percent decrease. Total traffic accidents city wide increased 30 percent during the reporting period.

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