Lafayette crime could be highest in 5 years

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Lafayette crime rate this year may be the highest in five years, but even with the recent homicide and armed bank robberies,  the violent crime rate is lower.

Lafayette Police Department crime analyst Steve Hawthorne said to date, property crimes in the city, which contribute to 90 percent or more of total crime, are down 14 percent from last year.

The violent crime rate has shown a 16 percent decrease. However, compared to the last five years, Hawthorne said Lafayette has shown an overall increase in crime of 24 percent.

Yet, he said residents shouldn't worry. He said it may not mean there are more crimes, victims may just be reporting them more often.

"A lot of times, changes in crime just reflects on how people feel about reporting the crime," said Hawthorne. "Some do, some don't. Some may feel more comfortable with the police department and report the crimes, others don't want to report crimes. They're afraid their neighbors might find out or their family, so they choose not to report crimes."

Hawthorne said many times, people think the holiday season is a high time for crime, but he said most crime in Lafayette actually occurs in the warmer months between June and August.