February 1st, 2012 by WCBC Radio
The crime rate in Baltimore and most Maryland localities has gone up and down since the state joined a national system of standardized record-keeping in 1975. But statistics released last fall showed that the number of crimes per 100,000 people is lower in 21 of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions than it was 36 years ago. The exceptions are Allegany and two Eastern Shore counties, Caroline and Wicomico, where the crime rate is higher than in 1975. In Allegany, however, the crime rate — mostly driven by property crime — is the highest in three decades. Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson tells WCBC News that in his view, Allegany's crime woes are primarily due to two things: the economy and drugs. The growing drug market, which is viewed as having a direct correlation to the rise in robberies, will be the focus on an upcoming summit of all law enforcement agencies in the county…
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