According to the an annual preliminary report of crime statistics for 2007, crime in Calvert County increased 3.3 percent when compared with statistics from 2006.

The report from the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the Maryland State Police (MSP) shows Calvert experienced increases in six categories—murder, robbery, aggravated assault, breaking and entering, larceny theft and motor vehicle theft.

Calvert’s increase was the highest of the three Southern Maryland counties. Charles County’s rate rose 1.9 percent while crime decreased 1.5 percent in St. Mary’s.

However, Calvert had the fewest number of crimes reported in the region and ranked eighth among Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions in the least number of incidents reported.

The report showed Calvert with a total of 1,896 crimes in 2007, compared with 1,835 in 2006.

According to Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans [R], many of the thefts reported last year were “drug-related rip-offs.� The sheriff also indicated that Calvert experienced an increase in crime during the last three months of 2007.

“That increased our percentage,� said Evans.

Both Evans and MSP Prince Frederick Barrack Commander Lt. Homer R. Rich indicated the county’s increasing population and a higher number of crimes being reported also helped spike the numbers.

“We have a lot of people moving into this county,� said Rich. “We also have excellent law enforcement agencies that do a good job of documenting crimes. Our closure rate remains extremely high.�

Evans concurred that Calvert’s law enforcement is well above the national average when it comes to closing out cases. “We’re a small county, we know a lot of the players,� said Evans.

The sheriff added that with the addition of a central information location in Hughesville, Southern Maryland’s law enforcement agencies will be able to close out more crime investigations in the future.

E-mail Marty Madden at editorial@calvertindependent.com.