Area law enforcement agencies report that as the weather cooled down, crime rates went up as is expected around Christmas time.

West Logan Police Chief Robert Ward received some serious incidents to investigate after a long relatively trouble free year.

Ward is investigating a breaking and entering at Riverside Oil and Lube. The perpetrator apparently utilized an old ladder that had been set out for the street department to haul away to climb up and break into the business to steal some tools. Ward has been contacting area pawnshops and garages to see if any of the missing items can be recovered, as well as checking into potential suspects. The robbery occurred in November. Ward also investigated a burglary on First Avenue where U.S. Mail was tampered with.

Logan Police Chief David White said that his department was fairly lucky in November noting that some local robbers had hit areas outside of town. Some of that luck ran out in December as one of the dollar stores in town was robbed at gunpoint and numerous shoplifters got busted at the local Wal Mart. White and other city officials were happy, however to see a dramatic decrease in reports of purse snatching incidents and residential burglaries which had plagued the city in past years around Christmas time.

"In the month of November, we had 30 complaints filed and we made 31 arrests," White said. "Our department handled 18 accident investigations and issued six municipal citations. All in all, we had a pretty slow month, considering what we normally have to put up with around this time of the year. If you have read the paper, you notice some of the thieves who have struck lately have been hitting businesses outside of town."

According to Man Police Chief Steve Simpkins, his department saw a slight slowdown in the month of November.

The Man P.D. made nine misdemeanor arrests on a variety of charges, including DUIs, possession of a controlled substance and obstructing an officer among other charges. The Man P.D. issued 25 citations in November for 34 charges and investigated one accident.

The Man Police Department had two felony arrests in the month of October, one for burglary and one for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. The Man PD made 12 misdemeanor arrests for a variety of charges, including DUIs, possession of a controlled substance, petit larceny and other charges.

The Man P.D. issued 25 citations for 38 different charges, and handled five traffic accidents.

Simpkins said parking meters in the town are being repaired and will be utilized in the near future. Citations will be issued for parking violations once all parking meters are in full operation.

The Man P.D. is up to six officers now as Tom Goins was hired on Nov. 15 as a full time patrolman. Chief Simpkins and Mayor Jim Blevins attended the 9th Annual Court Clerk and Municipal Judge Training Seminar in Charleston on Nov. 15 and 16. Currently, municipal court is held on the second Monday of the month.