By Leonard Gray / L’Observateur / January 30, 1998

HAHNVILLE – Fourth-quarter crime statistics compiled by the St. CharlesParish Sheriff’s Office reflect incident reductions, not only from theprevious quarter but also from the same time last year.

The statistics released Thursday shows a 22.6 percent reduction inoverall incidents and a 18 percent reduction from the same period in 1996.Burglary, theft and auto theft are all up, according to the report issued bySheriff Greg Champagne. However, crimes such as assault and rape havedecreased from the third quarter in 1996.For the period October-December 1997, there were four rapes, 15robberies, 204 assaults, 88 burglaries, 41 auto thefts, 244 thefts and nomurders.

Comparing fourth-quarter statistics to third-quarter figures, crimeincidents were down in most categories. Auto theft rose slightly, bothfrom the previous quarter and the same quarter of 1996.

The Uniform Crime Reports statistics are compiled nationally on avoluntary basis to determine crime trends in America, using seven basic categories.

For the period October-December 1996, there were six rapes, 21robberies, 213 assaults, 127 burglaries, 38 auto thefts, 325 thefts and nomurders.

Looking at the previous quarter, July-September 1997, there were norapes, 22 robberies, 217 assaults, 160 burglaries, 39 auto thefts, 328thefts and no murders.

Incidents such as murder, rape and assault are most difficult to prevent,according to law enforcement officials, because of their personal nature.

However, crimes against property such as theft, auto theft, burglary androbbery are more preventable.

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