Burglaries: Rockford's Highest Crime in 2012
By: Mary Jo Ola
Updated: January 10, 2013
Burglaries top the list of most committed crime in the city of Rockford for 2012.
In 2011 the city had 1,804 burglaries but in 2012 that number jumped to 2,170.
Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson said the increase comes from career criminals.
"It drives the discussion to have a prisoner reentry network in the city of Rockford, where those that are on parole are sort of system, an accountability system. We can have conversations with them make sure they're not re-offending," said Epperson.
Other crimes that were up but only in certain parts of the city: aggravated battery/shots fired and auto theft.
Robberies on the other hand were down over the year from 567 in 2011 to 503 in 2012.
In order to bring violent crime down Epperson said it will take more collaboration.
"It's again cops, courts, corrections. It's not just the police department that's going to solve the problem. It's going to be the whole criminal justice system in Winnebago County," said Epperson.
