Report: Durham crime on the rise in first quarter of 2014
DURHAM (WTVD) -- Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez presented a dismal crime report to city council Monday evening.
The chief said there has been a 36-percent increase in violent crime and a 10-percent increase in property crime during the first quarter of the year.
"We are very concerned about the increase in crime during the first quarter and have focused on several particular areas. We were especially concerned about the increase in aggravated assault so we organized a Violent Incident Response to focus on the locations where incidents have occurred and to target the people we believed to be involved," said Lopez in a statement. "Reducing crime is one of my department's top priorities and we will continue to work closely with the community in an effort to reduce crime."
Mayor Bill Bell called it a bad start to the year. He said the city needs to find a way to do better.
"We just aren't off to a good start. I say that to you and I say that to the community also," said Bell. "We've just got to find a way to do better. We really do. This is a bad start as far as I'm concerned."
