Franklin County crime rate falls 10 percent in 2012

Franklin County’s major crime rate dropped by almost 10 percent last year according to the state’s annual crime report released this week by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

State data shows that there were 317 major criminal offenses in Franklin County last year, down from 351 in 2011.

Florida's 2012 Uniform Crime Report shows crimes reported by city and county law enforcement from January through December.

There was one murder in Franklin County last year; there were none the year before.

Franklin County also saw an increase in the number of forcible rapes from 13 to 16 and an increase in the number of burglaries from 75 to 84.

There was one robbery last year, the same as in 2011.

But Franklin County saw the number of aggravated assaults drop from 90 to 74; the number of larcenies dropped from 157 to 130 and the number of motor vehicle thefts also fell from 15 to 11.

Local police also saw a drop in the number of cases they were able to clear.

About 38 percent of local crimes were cleared in 2012, down from nearly 46 percent a year earlier.

The crime rate in Gulf County rose by nearly 30 percent last year.

There were 336 major crimes reported in Gulf County last year up from 257 the year before.

Gulf County saw increases in the number of forcible rapes and robberies.

The number of burglaries in that county also jumped from 74 to 125.

Gulf County law enforcement were able to solve nearly 33 percent of the crimes committed in that county last year – up from about 28 percent in 2011.

You can see the full Florida's 2012 Uniform Crime Report broken down by county at oysterradio.com.

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