Violent Crime On Rise Across North Carolina

According to a 2005 report, crime rates are on the rise for murder, robbery and aggravated assault statewide.

N.C. Crime Report

Even though the statistics show a 0.5 percent drop in crime overall, there's an increase in the most violent crimes.

Robberies are up by more than 6.8 percent from the year before. The state's 582 homicides last year marked a 9.5 percent increase over the previous year.

"Each one of those murders has a victim. Often, there's family and friends involved and each one of those hurts. So, we must take this seriously," said state Attorney General Roy Cooper.

"Funds are needed, more manpower is needed, and we are going to work together as a group of law enforcement agencies to solve this problem. Hopefully, we can make a difference," said Nash County Sheriff Dick Jenkins.

To solve more crimes and catch more criminals, Cooper is asking lawmakers for two more experts for the DNA crime lab and six new experts to analyze drug evidence.