The number of violent crimes in Athens has ballooned and will continue rising, but crime at the University decreased in 2007, police said.

“What I use as an indicator is what we see in rest of Georgia, where we’re seeing huge spikes,” University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said. “Athens-Clarke County Police are calling it a crime emergency, seeing all categories of crime on the increase.”

ACC Police reported higher numbers in violent crimes – murder, robbery, rape and assault – in 2007, but University police numbers decreased in almost every area from 2006.

University police reported one rape each year, three fewer robberies in 2007 but three more cases of aggravated assault in 2007. Property crime decreased by more than 100 cases in 2007.

“Crime statistics are not good numbers for success or non success,” Williamson said. “Are there some things we’ve done? Yes. We have new patrol techniques, stake outs and catch more people breaking into cars. We’re more visible and have partnerships on campus to be successful.”

But with the attempted armed robbery on campus earlier this semester and a reported rape and three purse snatchings downtown on Oct. 4, the violent crime numbers near the University could be on the rise.

“UGA is a microcosm. There are no walls keeping people out,” Williamson said. “We’re subject to same types of people and crimes, so it’s important for people in the community to be aware.”

“From an economic standpoint, we’re going to see increases in crime in the next few years,” he said. “But we can’t do this alone any more than citizens can do on their own every day.”