Sheriff’s office compares 2015, 2016 crime stats

MADISON – Madison County Sheriff’s Office has released statistics on reported major crime incidents in Madison County for 2016 and compared those figures to totals from 2015.

Chief Deputy Dave Jernigan with the sheriff’s office compared the following facts:

* Homicide — 5 in 2016, decreased 37 percent from 8 in 2015.
* Robbery — 44 in 2016, decreased 12 percent from 50 in 2015.
* Rape — 33 in 2016, increased 10 percent from 30 in 2015.
* Burglary — 602 in 2016, decreased 9 percent from 659 in 2015.
* Theft of Property — 1669 in 2016, increased 9 percent from 1519 in 2015.

“Burglaries and theft of property continue to be a huge issue for law enforcement, not only for Madison County but for the rest of the country as well,” Jernigan said.

Jernigan encourages residents to assist law enforcement in improving security in several ways:

* Lock doors to vehicles and residences.
* Never keep anything of value in vehicles, especially a firearm.
* Keep doors and windows secured at night and when everyone is away from home.
* Close the garage door at night.
* Take precautions for a residence to look occupied when no one is at home.
* Report suspicious activity of individuals and vehicles in and out of your neighborhood. “If you see something, say something,” Jernigan said.

If a resident requests the service, the sheriff’s office can place a house on a vacation watch. “Please call us at 256-722-7181 to report a non-emergency, anything suspicious or to request a vacation check. As always, call 911 for emergencies only,” Jernigan said.

As Chief Deputy, Jernigan is responsible for all enforcement operations in the county, including patrol, criminal investigation, records, fleet, communications, administrative and special operations, pistol permit office and office of professional standards and ethics.

Jernigan and his wife have lived in Madison since 1995.

For more information, visit Sheriff.MadisonCountyAL.gov or Facebook/Madison County Sheriff’s Office.