Crime
– and crimes solved – increase
By Richard D.L. Fulton
Emmitsburg News Editor
THURMONT,
Md. – Between 2001 and 2005, Thurmont’s population
increased about 7 percent, and crime in the town has increased
more than 25 percent. However, more than twice as many crimes
have been cleared.
In 2001,
Thurmont Police handled 125 serious crime cases. Last year
that number had risen to 157 cases, according to the Uniform
Crime Report.
“Mayor”
Martin Burns agrees with the numbers. “I have seen a
significant increase in solving crimes in Thurmont, and law
enforcement as a whole, over the past 3 to 5 years,”
he said.
Thurmont
Police Chief Greg Eyler said, “More people may be reporting
crimes, which has to be considered.”
Not all
categories of serious crime increased. The exception was larcenies,
which dropped from 105 to 55 cases. Robberies, assaults and
breaking and entering motor vehicle cases increased.
Assaults
showed the most dramatic increase – from 6 to 75 cases.
“More
people are coming into town and the assaults and thefts may
be from the increase in drug activity,” Eyler said.
He does
caution that statistics can be misleading and crimes can be
cyclical.
“I’ve
been in law enforcement long enough to know a department can
be as busy or not busy as it wants to be,” he said.
Despite
the increased number of cases, the police are also clearing
a much higher percentage. In 2001, 24 percent were cleared.
Last year, that number was up to 58 percent. In other municipal
police departments in towns close to Thurmont’s size,
the clearance rate is significantly lower.
“We
are doing more in-depth investigations of the crimes we get
and clearing them,” Eyler said. “Our track record
is good.”
Burns
feels part of the reason for the high clearance is because
Thurmont has a young, eager force that works hard.
“They
take pride in the town,” Burns said. “When a crime
happens here, they take it personally.”
Despite
Thurmont’s increased crime rate (crimes per 100,000
people), the town has a lower crime rate than other Maryland
towns close to its size. Thurmont’s 2004 crime rate
was 1,817.9, which is lower than 10 other Maryland towns with
their own police force.
“The
safety in Thurmont is good,” Eyler said. “I don’t
think anybody is living in fear.”
