By Scott Harvey
Royse City – A recent report by the Royse City Police Department shows crime is up significantly for the first six months of the year when compared to the same time period last year.
Royse City Police Chief Tom Shelton says typically the city's crime rate is very low, however, recent numbers show burglaries, thefts and auto thefts have increased considerably.
Shelton believes a majority of those numbers are because of the city's growth, and lack of growth from its police department.
''This police department needs to be growing at the same rate of the city and its not doing that,'' says Shelton.
The reason for little growth within the department, according to Shelton, is because of difficulties in attracting more police officers and the lack of city funds to provide more positions.
Thefts during the first six months of the year totaled 75, while there were only 31 at this point last year. Burglaries have increased from 14 to 19, while assaults have gone from 58 to 77.
Total numbers for all offenses were not available but, according to Shelton, were much more than last year's at this point.