NEWS BRIEFS

+ Longboat Key burglaries decrease 62.5%
Longboat Key Police Chief Pete Cumming released crime statistics for the first six months of the year that reflect a 62.5% decrease in burglaries and larcenies when compared to the same period in 2012.
Total cases involving burglary and larcenies amounted to 48 incidents, compared to 128 in 2012, for a 62.5% decrease.

The highest percentage of service calls fell under the category of fire department assistance, with a total of 814 calls for the first half of 2013, a 4.6% decrease from the same period in 2012.

Burglary alarm responses represent the next-highest number of responses with 372 calls, compared with 437 in 2012, for a 14.9% decrease.

Traffic related activity, including accidents, stand at 703 calls so far for 2013, down by 30 calls, for a 4% decrease.

The police department responded to a total of 1,463 calls for service in the first quarter of the year and 1,613 calls in the second quarter, for a total of 3,076 incidents. That’s a 1.1% decrease in police department calls when compared to the first half of 2012.

“In summary, the police department is experiencing a level of activity in all areas typical with seasonal fluctuation and criminal activity commonly associated with this community,” wrote Cumming in a crime incident report.

+ Holiday schedule changes
Longboat Key solid waste and recycling collections will be made Tuesday, Sept. 3, due to the Labor Day holiday. Waste and recycling should be placed curbside by 7 a.m. Longboat Key Town Hall and its various departments will also be closed Monday, Sept. 2 and will reopen 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3.