By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / November 25, 1998

HAHNVILLE – Newly-released crime statistics for the St. Charles ParishSheriff’s Office show a decrease in some categories, as reported to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports for the third quarter of 1998. The reportingperiod was July through September.

“What’s really exciting for us are the drops in robbery, burglary and auto theft,” Sheriff Greg Champagne commented. “It’s encouraging to me.”For the third quarter of 1998, there were 757 incidents, slightly down from the second quarter’s 768 incidents. This compares to 766 incidentsin the third quarter of 1997, reflecting a slight decrease.

In crimes against property, there were 11 robberies in the third quarter of 1998, slightly down from the 12 robberies in the second quarter. Thatcompares to 22 robberies in the third quarter of 1997, a 50 percent cut.

In auto theft, there were 35 incidents in the third quarter of 1998, compared to 50 incidents in the second quarter. That compares to 39incidents in the third quarter of 1997, down 11.5 percent.In burglary, there were 129 incidents in the third quarter of 1998, compared to 116 incidents in the second quarter. This compares to 160incidents in the third quarter of 1997, a drop of 19.5 percent.The burglary statistics were especially gratifying to Champagne, considering the looting incidents during the Hurricane Georges evacuation.

“It tells me we’re doing something right,” he said.

In theft, there were 329 incidents in the third quarter of 1998, compared to 344 incidents in the second quarter. That compares to 328 incidents inthe third quarter of 1997, the percentage virtually unchanged.

In crimes against persons, there was no murders in this quarter and only one in the second quarter and none in the third quarter of 1997. There wasone rape in the third quarter of 1998, compared to 10 in the second quarter. This compared to none in the third quarter of 1997.There were 252 assaults in the third quarter of 1998, compared to 237 in the second quarter and 328 incidents in the third quarter of 1997.

Such crimes against persons are nearly impossible to prevent, Champagne said. “The assaults hit us hard,” he noted.In related news, Champagne said progress is being made on the parish’s new jail facility, a site selected immediately south of Louisiana Highway 3127 near Killona. “It was the only one we could fit the jail onto and theprice was good.”

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