LISA MARCHESONI, Post Senior Writer
Posted: Sunday, January 31, 2010 7:14 am

When sheriff’s Detective Capt. Preble Acton reviewed crime statistics, she recalled a handwritten note posted at the Rockvale Post Office.

A burglary victim wrote a note on a piece of white notebook paper asking people to watch out for each other.

Acton agreed.

Although she’s pleased the county’s crime rate dropped by 7.12 percent last year, Acton believes if neighbors watched out for each other and reported suspicious activities, the crime rate would drop even more.

“Neighbors should take care of neighbors,” Acton said.

Detectives investigated 2,008 major crimes last year, a drop of 154 cases from the previous year. Auto burglaries increased while home burglaries, thefts, sex crimes and domestic violence cases decreased from 2008 to 2009 in Rutherford County.

Three people were murdered in 2009, the same as the previous year.

All three murders were believed inflicted at the hands of family members, she said.

Victims Kevin and Mary Jane Adams, both 43, of Halls Hill Pike, were shot and killed in April at their Halls Hill Pike home. Their son, Jesse, 14, was shot and survived.

Their nephew Daniel Hazlett, 24, of Lascassas was charged with murder but the case was continued after evaluations showed he was incompetent to stand trial.

In the third death, Sonny Elledge, 69, of Betty Ford Road died Dec. 11 at his home. His son, Eric, 31, was charged with first-degree murder. His case is pending in General Sessions Court.

Patrol officers and detectives may be making a dent in the murder rate of domestic cases by intervening early.

Domestic violence cases dropped from 374 in 2008 to 318 in 2009, a decrease of almost 15 percent.

Patrol officers make the arrests in many domestic violence cases and write thorough reports so detectives will get a sense of the seriousness of the case.

Both patrol officers and domestic violence detectives help the victim through the court process and give the victim and chance for a safe place at the domestic violence shelter. The victim is given an opportunity to use community services. Detectives give victims their phone numbers for emergency situations.

Regarding the property crimes, Acton said neighbors can help prevent burglary and theft crimes by watching out for each other.

For instance, if a family plans to be out-of-town, ask a neighbor to watch the property. Or if someone sees a suspicious person at a neighbor’s house, call the sheriff’s office at 898-7770 and ask a deputy to check out the person.

“We don’t mind checking someone out,” Acton said. “That’s our job.”

People who see suspicious cars in the neighborhood should obtain a description of the car and driver and the license plate if possible and notify the sheriff’s office.

She credited Sgt. James Harrell who leads the Community Services Unit in establishing Neighborhood Watch programs throughout the county to stop burglaries and thefts.

“It could be a whole lot better if people got involved,” the captain said, adding detectives depend on witnesses in apprehending burglars and thieves.

When interviewing suspects, detectives learned they admit breaking into three houses but actually broke into 15 houses.

If someone breaking into cars admitting stealing from 10 to 15, they probably broke into 50 vehicles.

Other notes of interest

Besides the property crimes, detectives are now investigating computer crimes, especially people who are soliciting children for sex online. Ten suspects were charged last year.

Critics may believe the time invested in computer crimes may be a waste.

“They wouldn’t if their daughter or son were on the other end of the computer,” Acton said. “We follow the law explicitly. We only put away perverts.”

Detectives arrested 246 suspects on 612 counts and cleared 1,139 cases.

Through their investigations, detectives recovered $685,023 worth of stolen property last year.

One of the most striking recoveries was a wedding ring Detectives Scott Tillman and Chris Owens recovered the day before the couple married. The couple invited the detectives to the wedding.

Lisa Marchesoni may be reached at 869-0814 or at lmarchesoni

@murfreesboropost.com.