Mixed News for Crimes in Wheaton for the First Quarter of 2011

The 4th District's crime trends don't look similar to the rest of the County, but it's not entirely a cause for celebration.

Montgomery County Police released the crime totals for the first quarter of 2011 - from January through March, and compared them with the same period in 2010.

The County overall shows a gradual decrease in both Part I (6.6 percent) and total crimes (4.6 percent). In the Fourth District, an area that covers Wheaton, Aspen Hill and Olney, Part I crimes increased by four percent and all crimes decreased 1.9 percent. 

But certain offenses were up significantly in the 4th District.

Rapes increased 300 percent over the first quarter of 2010, from 2 to 8 cases. While this trend existed across all Districts except for Bethesda (2nd District) and Silver Spring (3rd District), Wheaton had the largest percentage increase.

Robberies increased 13.3 percent (compared to the county-wide average of 20 percent decrease), while burglaries increased 49.5 percent. 

However, aggravated assaults were down in the 4th District, from 34 during the same period of 2010 to 19 in 2011 (a 44.1 percent decrease). Larcenies were also down, by four percent.