Spike in Oconee County burglaries

Here’s what the sheriff of Oconee County is saying about a spike in burglaries: “Property crime rates are closely related to drug addiction.” Mike Crenshaw said yesterday he believes that continued methamphetamine investigations coupled with the need to treat the addicted will correlate to decreasing crime. Burglary in the unincorporated parts of Oconee last year jumped 17%—from 378 to 459. Crenshaw also says the more burglaries the more the need for the county to authorize additional uniform patrol deputies. He said, “Having that marked police car presence in neighborhoods is a deterrent to crime.”