By Christopher Williams,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – The total number of major crimes committed in the city dipped slightly last year, but rapes, domestic assaults, robberies and arsons were up.

In some cases, the numbers are low even though the percentage change might be high. For instance, the number of arsons went up 300 percent last year to 12 from only three in 2004.

Domestic assaults were up more than 22 percent to 299.

That doesn’t necessarily mean there were more domestic violence victims last year, said police Chief Bill Welch.

Two factors could account for higher reporting of assaults in the home, he said: better education and added efforts by police to monitor domestic hot spots.

For the past three years, police have been dispatched to homes where protection orders are in effect, Welch said. Police also have checked in on bailed suspects who were ordered not to have contact with certain people. Those cases often lead to domestic assault, Welch said.

At the same time, advocacy groups have been urging domestic assault victims to report the crime.

Other types of assault were down in the city, except for rape, which rose 22 percent, from 19 to 23.

The total number of crimes against people and property committed in the city by juveniles stayed about the same last year.

The number of minor assaults by youths under 18 rose 81 percent, while aggravated assaults were down 43 percent.

Also among youths, the number of liquor law violations nearly tripled, from 12 to 35. Welch credited the efforts of local officers funded by grants for greater enforcement that led to a higher number of arrests. The state cut back sharply on enforcement about three years ago, Welch said.

While the number of major crimes in Lewiston went down, statewide, they increased by about half of 1 percent.

Welch is proud of the drop in the city’s numbers.

“It’s taken us a long time to get to a positive image,” he said. “We’re just reciting the facts, Lewiston-Auburn is a safe place to be.”

One local statistic easily explained is a 45 percent hike in the number of gasoline drive-offs, Welch said.

With the rising price of gasoline, more motorists are skipping out after pumping.

Still, in many cases, it’s honest forgetfulness, he said.

Police might talk to the business community or seek an ordinance ordering gas stations to require customers pay before pumping or pay at the pump, Welch said. That would free up officers for other police business. Tracking down drive-offs is a time-consuming effort, Welch said.

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