By HEATHER RUPPE
Comparing crime statistics for all of Colleton County from 2020 to last year, in 2021, although the call volume went slightly down, there’s been an increase in the number of violent crimes that occurred in the county.
Statistics include all county areas except for the City of Walterboro and the Town of Edisto Beach.
According to data provided by the Colleton County Sheriff's Office, there were 137,992 calls for service in 2021. In 2020, there were 142,316 calls for service in the county. These numbers include regular call-ins, 911 to text, and transfers from other agencies.
Broken down by violent crimes, there were eight murders in Colleton County in 2021.
In 2020, there was one.
Also, in 2021 (last year), there were 22 attempted murders and 10 reported cases of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
However, in 2020, there were 14 attempted murders and 13 cases of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
The number of burglaries committed in the county was relatively the same:
In 2020, there were 33 first-degree burglaries, 88 second-degree burglaries, and 67 third-degree burglaries.
In 2021, there were 29 first-degree burglaries, 89 second-degree burglaries, and 56 third-degree burglaries.
As for armed robberies, the number went down last year: there were nine armed robberies in 2020 and six armed robberies in 2021.
The reported cases of grand larcenies and petit larcenies were similar between the two years: 221 petit larcenies in 2020 and 209 petit larcenies last year, with 65 grand larcenies reported in 2020 and 61 reported in 2021.
Overall, the number of criminal domestic violence cases in Colleton County also increased last year, as did the number of drug cases. There were 26 overall CDV cases in 2020 and 37 in 2021, and there were 126 cases of meth possession last year, compared to 64 in 2020.
"Colleton deputies are hard at work deterring crime through proactive policing efforts. By adding additional canine units and forming our narcotics division, we continue to combat the drug problem in Colleton," said Colleton County Sheriff Buddy Hill. "Additionally, with the addition of our community relations division, we're working towards enhancing communication with our citizens.
Our Investigation Division and our Victim Advocates continue implementing new ideas to decrease crimes against children and women. Through local programs such as Hopeful Horizons, women and children are given resources for help and steps to take to avoid becoming a victim. Additionally, our investigation division works jointly with the Attorney General's Office in prosecuting offenders involved in child exploitation and human trafficking crimes.
"To continue law enforcement's efforts in achieving a safer Colleton, it's crucial to have community support, community interaction, community cooperation, and community investment to help law enforcement decrease crime," he said. "It takes everyone working together: law enforcement agencies, elected officials, and the community.
On the positive side, the number of reported cases of sex crimes in the county decreased last year: there were 18 reported cases of criminal sexual conduct in 2020 and 9 in 2021.
There was a slight decrease in reported kidnappings: 8 kidnappings occurred in 2020, but only 7 happened last year, according to CCSO statistics.
