September crime statistics provided Tuesday by Fairburn Police Chief Charles Long show a nine-percent decrease in serious crimes over September 2004, a 22-percent increase in total traffic accidents and a 52-percent increase in arrests.

Fairburn has experienced no crimes such as murder and rape during 2005 and has experienced a 17-percent decrease in thefts and a 35-percent decrease in aggravated assaults.

While there was only one auto theft in September compared to four in September 2004, year-to-date totals show a four percent increase. Significant in the statistics is the monthly tabulation that shows a peak in Spring and a dramatic drop during the summer. There were a total of nine auto thefts in January and five in February. In march, that number increased to 16, followed by 11 in April and eight in May. The downward trend began in June with no auto thefts, followed by two in July, four in August and one in September. Long said a correlation in that trend is possible.

“I can’t prove it buy I think we’ve caught the responsible party in connection with the auto thefts. If you draw a correlation between the number of auto thefts earlier this year and those in the past few months there would appear to be some relationship,” Long explained. “The subject is either incarcerated of has left the area. Either possibility is desirable.”

Discussing another crime area, Long said burglary is currently the most serious crime problem facing the city. Burglaries in September totaled 12 compared to nine in September 2004 and show a 19 percent increase year-to-date over last year. Burglaries ranged in the single digits during the first four months of 2005 but ranged between 12-17 per month during May through September, with a peak of 17 in July.

“We’re concerned about this and we’re doing some things to address these crimes,” Long said. “We’re following this closely and are putting some things and hope to interrupt this trend soon.”

Traffic accidents throughout the city increased 22 percent in September over the same period in 2004, though the top seven areas, mainly along Ga. Highway 74 and U.S. Highway 29, showed a 10 percent increase. There were a total of 40 citywide accidents in September compared to 28 a year ago. Of the 40 accidents last month, 10 occurred at Hwy. 74 and Oakley Industrial Boulevard, adjacent to I-85. A factor in the increased accidents near I-85 might be attributed to the rerouted traffic related to the ongoing freeway construction, said Long. Another factor influencing the number of traffic accidents citywide is likely the significant increase in population, hence the increase in vehicles on the road. Fairburn has doubled in population in just the past five years.

The number of arrests in September continue to follow trend that began in January 2005 over those in 2004. Arrests in September totaled 65 in all categories compared to 46 for the same period in 2004, a 41 percent increase. Year-to-date arrests totaled 490 compared to 322 for the same period last year, representing a 52 percent increase.

“We’re charging more folks this year and I think that’s responsible for the decreases in some of the more serious crimes,” Long said. “We’re having an impact and we expect that impact to continue.”

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