Sheriff's Department releases 2011 crime stats

Crime in Coffee County has increased during the course of 2011, according to a report from the Coffee County Sheriff's Department.

Chief Deputy Ronnie Whitworth said much of the crime is a result of the troubled economy.

The department has received an increased number of calls regarding burglaries and theft. Whitworth said domestic violence calls have also seen a considerable increase during the year.

Currently, some of the most common thefts are of copper and pecans.

Due to the high price of pecans, county deputies have responded to at least two pecan thefts where more than 300 pounds were stolen. Copper theft is also a problem deputies respond to frequently after many homes and churches have been stripped for scrap metal.

The Coffee County Sheriff's Department made a total of 1,122 arrests last year with about 150 of those being drug related.

The department also responded to a minimum of 2,208 calls during the course of the year, Whitworth said.

For more on the 2011 crime statistics for Coffee County, see the next issue of The Southeast Sun.