Springfield crime rate up 13 percent in first half of 2007

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- Major crime in Springfield was up 13 percent in the first half of 2007, a slower rise than in the first three months but on track for a new annual record in Missouri's third-largest city.

The increase was led by robberies, up 55 percent. Motor vehicle thefts were up 37 percent, and there was a 16 percent increase in aggravated assaults. The overall rise was 16 percent in the first quarter.

Drug crimes are not tracked under the statistics, but police chief Lynne Rowe said much of the increase is connected to the illegal drug trade.

"It's still a 'drugs and thugs' kind of business," he said. "What we're still dealing with is people wanting to settle disputes with violence."

Robberies and thefts often are linked to drugs as well, he said, with users stealing to finance their drug habits.

The new report shows a 24 percent increase in overall violent crime, with double-digit increases in forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

The number of homicides declined slightly, with three in the first half of 2007 compared with five during the same period in 2006. There were no incidents of manslaughter, the same as last year.

Last year, the number of reported major crimes in Springfield reached a 10-year high, narrowly exceeding a similar spike in 2001.

The rate was 4.3 percent higher last year than in 2005. Springfield has a population of about 150,300.

---

Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com