Local crime increases with downturn in economy

Despite differing opinions from experts, economic recession has long been associated with a rise in crime.

And as the country's financial future continues to look bleak, area law enforcement officials say that shrinking incomes and increased joblessness are having an impact on crime across the Flathead Valley.

"In general, we're seeing an increase in property crimes," said Kalispell Police Chief Roger Nasset. "The people we're dealing with are telling us that it's a direct correlation to the economy."

While Nasset said he expects statistics gathered in the coming months to more fully illustrate the trend, his department already has recorded an uptick in criminal activity.

Through the end of November, officers worked 27 fraud and forgery cases, compared with 22 cases during the same 11-month period in 2007, and 85 burglaries.

"We've never experienced more than 60 burglaries in any prior year, so that's a substantial increase," Nasset said.

Officers began seeing a rise in crimes related to tough economic times during the summer with a rash of gas thefts and siphoned fuel tanks.

"It first was reflected in fuel prices," Nasset said. "And that's also where we really started to see the thefts and burglaries increase."

Flathead County Sheriff Mike Meehan said his office began seeing the buildup to a recent spike in property crimes about 18 months ago. He expects the extent of the suffering economy's impact on crime to become statistically apparent in the next eight months.

"Over the past year we've had more burglaries than we typically have," he said. "It appears the economy is playing more of a role this year."

Officials said that stress over the economy has also led to a rise in alcohol-related crimes and partner or family member assaults, both in incorporated and non-incorporated areas of the Flathead Valley. Meehan said that in his jurisdiction, deputies were called to an average of one suicide attempt a day during the holiday season. The number of domestic violence cases worked by deputies also continues to rise, he added.

And the rise in cases seems to reflect more than just the growing pains of an expanding community, Nasset said.

"Each year we can expect a little increase in crime just because of population growth," he said. "This year we're experiencing increases that are no doubt a result of the economy."

In the county, Meehan said he has noticed an increase in credit card fraud and bad check cases. Detectives are working on at least two unsolved armed casino robberies.

Flathead County Sheriff's deputies and Kalispell police have worked seven robberies or attempted robberies at area casinos since late August.

"It's a very, very small percentage of people," Meehan said. "Typically a burglar is a silent thief. He doesn't want anyone to be there. When you're brazen enough to look someone in the eye and threaten their life with a pistol … that's a whole different ball game. You're stirring the pot for some real violence."

As Kalispell's cash-strapped city government contemplates layoffs in the public safety sector, the department is changing its methodology for combating crime, Nasset said.

"We are trying to make the public more aware so they can help us help them," he said. "There's no doubt we're dealing with more crime with less resources."

Nasset emphasized there's no cause to panic.

"We live in a great community," he said. "A lot of the crimes we're experiencing, if you put them in perspective, are not the violent crimes other communities experience. Crime is not running rampant out there."

In Whitefish, officials said it's too early to gauge whether a poor economy is influencing crime statistics. In a town where some residences are occupied only seasonally and the population fluctuates with the weather, break-ins to homes and vehicles are a year-round occurrence, said Assistant Whitefish Police Chief Mike Ferda. Still, Ferda is expecting thefts to rise.

"Traditionally … crime tends to go up during times when our economy isn't doing so well," he said. "But lots of good people have lost their jobs. They're not thieves just because they're going through tough times. It doesn't mean good people are going to resort to being criminals."

In an effort to stymie any trend before it starts, Whitefish police officers are talking security with business owners and conducting extra patrols throughout the downtown area, Ferda said.

"Law enforcement is going to be as aggressive as it needs to be to keep this a great place to live," he said.

Reporter Nicholas Ledden can be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at nledden@dailyinterlake.com