Covid-19 Crime Rate Effect

Although Covid-19 is doing alot of damage, it seems to stop crime as we speak with law enforcers who report a low in crime.

Or both.

It's a saying that's you've probably heard many times....when the weather gets warmer, the crime rate goes up..

However, with the fear of coronavirus, things look different this year, law enforcement officers are noticing a reduced number of felonies.

Our stephanie poole joins us live with more on what's behind the numbers..

That's right joey.

Officers tell me the rate of crime for the month of march is lower than expected.

While they say it's common for criminals to execute more harmful acts during the spring, it seems like the bad guys are just as scared of the virus too.

Law enforcement typically responds to hundreds of calls per week.

However, coronavirus concerns may be behind those numbers falling drastically.

" violent crimes so far we have not.

A- lot of the smaller stuff like 4- wheelers on the road and misdemeanor stuff that we been dealing with."

Clay county sheriff eddie scott says the virus is keeping more people indoors and out of trouble with serious crimes.

" we've had issues with shoplifting.

So right now we running extra people on parole so we're trying to stay visible and trying to keep it from going on the up-tick.

I'm concerned that the more of the summer months coming ,you know , it has a potential that it can pick up."

" a combination of those things will probably open the door to more arrest being made."

Kevin crook is the monroe county sheriff.

He says his department had 160 bookings for february but march numbers will look a little low.

" probably only the last two weeks it's tapered off.

We're still answering the calls for service people are still calling and we are handling a-lot of stuff over the phone."

It's the same trend in columbus.

Chief fred shelton says stay-at-home restrictions are keeping his officers with a pretty open schedule.

" we're not seeing a spike in crimes, violent crimes.

We're still getting the occasionally domestic violence call or if there's someone suspicious in the neighborhood or something of that nature but nothing major."

That's why shelton is amping up patrol and keeping an eye out for any activity.

"we're trying to protect people and make sure they're safe.

It's easy to protect people from gun fire, from knives and physical attack but this is something very different and new to law enforcement."

" if you commit a crime don't think you're going to get a free pass cause it's not gone happen."

Another way to continue to keep crime down is enforcing that city's curfew or current regulations.

Law enforcement believes if everyone follows the guidelines it'll keep people safe and out of harm's way.

Reporting live in columbus, stephanie poole,