Yulee, Fla. – The crime rate dropped by 17.2 percent in Nassau County during 2013, Sheriff Bill Leeper announced. This reduction is the lowest since 2010. Nassau County’s crime rate continues to be well below the state-wide average of 4.7 percent.
According to the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) statistics provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) released Wednesday, there were 247 fewer crimes overall in 2013 than 2012.
While the Annual Crime Report marks a significant reduction in our Crime Rate, it’s extremely important to remember that criminals adapt quickly to any effort made by law enforcement to combat crime.
That is why it is vital that our citizens continue to use Crime Prevention tools to help protect themselves, their families, and their community. Now is not the time to let up on our efforts, but instead, is the time to apply even more aggressive pressure to make sure we send a strong message to criminals and continue to reduce our crime rate.
“I am very pleased that crime in Nassau County is continuing its downward trend. There are several key reasons for this success, including our valuable partnerships with other law enforcement agencies and the community; our proactive approach to solving crime trends before they become an issue; and the fact that we work hard every day to prove to the people of Nassau County that we are committed to excellence,” said Sheriff Bill Leeper. “Nassau County continues to be a safe place to live, work, raise a family, and visit on vacation.”
Here are some of the ways citizens can help law enforcement drive down crime:
- Lock your car and keep valuables out of view
- Start or join a Neighborhood Watch program
- Mentor a child
- Be alert and aware of your surroundings
- Join one of NCSO’s Citizens Advisory Teams to help address problems at the neighborhood level
- Protect personal information like your Social Security number, computer passwords and banking information
When online, don’t chat with strangers or respond to their e-mails
