fPreliminary Uniform Crime Report
Conyers Police Department 2008 2009 Percentage change Number change
Murder 0 0 0
Rape 7 6 -14% -1
Robbery 44 37 -16% -7
Aggravated Assault 43 31 -28% -12
Burglary 210 187 -10.90% -23
Arson 5 4 -20% -1
Thefts 724 751 3.70% 27
Motor vehicle thefts 98 66 -32.65% -32
Rockdale County Sheriff's Office 2008 2009 Percentage change
Murder 4 5 25.0%
Rape 24 11 -54.2%
Robbery 69 46 -33.3%
Assault 232 234 0.9%
Burglary 556 625 12.4%
Theft 1,718 1,495 -13.0%
Auto Theft 274 200 -27.0%
The streets of Rockdale County and Conyers are safer than last year, according to statistics released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to the Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, crime in Conyers, Rockdale, and nationally was lower in 2009 than in 2008.
The report compiles statistics of violent and property crimes, comparing them to the previous year from Jan. to Dec.
The Rockdale County Sheriff's Office reported drops in crimes with the exception of a 12.4 percent increase in burglary, two more assault cases and one more murder in 2009 than in 2008.
Rape cases had the biggest drop going from 24 in 2008 to 11 in 2009, or a decrease by 54.2 percent.
Robberies and theft were both down - 33.3 percent and 13 percent, respectively - while burglaries had the largest increase.
There were 625 cases of burglary in 2009 in Rockdale County, 69 more than the 556 in the previous year.
"The decrease in overall crime statistics can be attributed to efforts by both our deputies and by our court system," Rockdale County Sheriff Jeff Wingington said. "Our deputies maintain a concentrated and aggressive enforcement in problem areas that apprehends criminals and prevents future crimes from occurring as frequently. Also, the Rockdale County judicial system has a reputation for strict sentencing on criminals that do commit these crimes, which ultimately deters future instances."
The Conyers Police Department had a similar tale of crime decreases in 2009.
The police department reported decreases in all crimes with the exception of thefts from 2008 to 2009.
There were 724 thefts in '08 and 27 more, up to 751, the following year.
Motor vehicle thefts had the biggest decrease with 32.7 percent less at 66, down from 98.
Other decreases were burglary, down 11 percent from 210 to 187, aggravated assault, down 28 percent from 43 to 31, and robbery down 16 percent from 44 to 37.
There was a slight decrease in rapes from seven down to six.
Police Chief Gene Wilson said the working relationship of the detectives and patrol division in the department and between CPD and the Sheriff's Office helped effectively solve crimes. "I have never seen a detective unit and patrol division work together as well as this group does, sharing information and working together to solve some of the incidences we’ve had," said Wilson.
According to the Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report violent crimes were down 5.5 percent nationally. The FBI defines violent crimes to include murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
Nationally property crimes, including burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft, decreased 4.9 percent.
