Peachtree City has the lowest rate of violent crime in metro Atlanta for the 2009 calendar year, according to statistics released recently by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The city recorded just 18 such crimes in 2009, which averages out to .51 per 1,000 residents.
Tyrone’s violent crime rate was also among the very lowest in metro Atlanta with a total of four such crimes for a rate of .58 per 1,000 residents.
The FBI defines violent crimes as murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
In terms of crimes classified as Part 1 crimes, which includes violent crimes and also burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft and arson, Peachtree City had the lowest crime rate among all cities of similar size in the state. Peachtree City had 188 such Part 1 crimes per 10,000 residents compared to 193 Part 1 crimes per 10,000 residents recorded in Kennesaw, which came in a close second place.
Among the violent crime data, other cities closest to Peachtree City’s rate were Milton (.79 violent crimes per 1,000 residents), Johns Creek (.87 violent crimes per 1,000 residents) and Kennesaw (.9 violent crimes per 1,000 residents).
The city has seen an increase in domestic violence and alcohol-related incidents that may be related in part to the job market and the economy, said Peachtree City Police Chief H.C. “Skip” Clark. The city also has seen an increase in shoplifting recently, he added.
The department recently changed the city’s patrol zone system, breaking the city up into five zones instead of four. The result has been more of a focus on the “smaller” crimes in an effort to prevent more significant crime, Clark said.
“We are trying to get a partnership with the community and businesses to be more in tune with what goes on around us,” Clark said, noting that the city’s reputation as a safe place to live and work can work against crime prevention if people feel so comfortable they lose their vigilance. “Some people may be too trusting.”
Citizens are particularly urged to “be aware” of their surroundings as some criminals have cherry-picked the area because of the public’s perception that the city is so safe, Clark said.
Clark said another significant area of concern for safety is the city’s 90 miles of golf cart paths, particularly since some incidents on the path take hours, days and sometimes weeks to be reported, making them difficult to handle.
“A lot of times we don’t get those calls in a timely basis,” Clark said.
Clark said his officers meanwhile are doing a “great job” and he also gave thanks for the collaboration Peachtree City has with the Fayetteville and Tyrone police and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.
