Sheriff’s report shows ups, downs in local crime

Brandon Twp.- Larceny, fraud, and OWI reports are up, traffic crashes and damaged property reports are down? but overall, the number of police service calls are about the same this year compared to the same time period last year.
These are some of the findings of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office quarterly report, tracking township substation activities from January to September 2008.
‘Statistically, things are about the same as last year,? said Sgt. Pete Burkett.
So far this year, the substation has received 3,583 calls for service. For the same period last year, 3,587 calls for service were received. The substation recorded 104 larcenies this year, compared to 85 last year and 46 burglaries compared to 39 last year. Frauds nearly doubled, with 29 this year compared to 15 for the same time period last year. Assists to the fire department increased from 359 calls to 444 calls, but citizen assist calls were down to 579 from 717. Traffic crashes were down, 224 compared to 257 a year ago, but the number of drunk/drugged driving arrests was up? 28 this year, compared to 13 last year. Of this year’s OWI arrests, 11 are second or subsequent offenses, for the same time period in 2007, there were four second or subsequent offenses.
The detective bureau has seen 163 cases from January to September and obtained 76 warrants. Burkett said the busiest month for police in the township is July, although the month of April proved busiest within the Village of Ortonville.