Published: November 18, 2008 09:48 pm      

Crime down overall in county

DANVILLE — Jumps in robberies and sexual assaults were not enough to create an increase in crime across Vermilion County.

The Illinois State Police released crime statistics today in a number of categories for law enforcement across the state, including Danville police, the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department and others locally.

Overall, crime in Vermilion County dropped just more than 4 percent, totaling 4,136 offenses for the 2007 year. In Danville city limits, offenses totaled 32,760 — a decrease of 0.5 percent.

Almost all cities and villages within the county showed similar decreases, ranging from 0.4 percent in Westville to 0.6 percent in Georgetown.

Despite the drop, several crime areas showed increases in some areas. Criminal sexual assaults, which reached the second lowest total since 1999 at 31 in 2006, rebounded to 54 in 2007 — a 74 percent increase and the highest number since 1999.

Throughout the county, sexual assaults raised 32 percent to 89 incidents — also a high number since 1999.

Ironically, arrests in that category made a quick turnaround. After falling to just 10 in 2006, sexual assault arrests more than doubled to 21 last year. Overall, 674 arrests were made in 2007, down from 772 in 2006.

Robberies continued a two-year spike across the county, coming in at 143 for 2007 — more than double the totals reached in either 2003 or 2004. Danville incidents constituted the large majority of those offenses, increasing by more than 80 offenses over 2006 totals.

Burglaries and aggravated assault/battery incidents dropped both in Danville and overall while thefts saw a minimal increase in the city and a slight decrease throughout the county.

Local law enforcement did well against the drug market, recording just under 500 arrests for marijuana, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia during 2007.