Most crimes in Kane are drug-related

Most felony cases in Kane County deal with drug possession and dealing and thefts addicts use to feed their habit, the state's attorney said Tuesday.

"Violence dominates the headlines, but in reality it's a really small percentage of felony charges," Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti said.

Barsanti's office analyzed all the felony cased filed during the past year.

The bulk of them came from three towns -- 29.5 percent from Aurora, 21.2 percent from Elgin and 8.3 percent from Carpentersville.

Overall, 3,801 felony cases were filed in Kane County in 2007 compared to just less than 3,500 in 2006.

Although that's an increase of about 8 percent, Barsanti had expected an increase in felony cases of about 400 to 500.

Barsanti said if you add up the drug-related possession and dealing offenses, retail thefts more than $150, burglary, forgery and obstruction of justice, it comes to 60 percent of all cases.

"You're talking about addicts that steal to feed their habit," he said. "Retail theft is a junkie's crime mostly or kids stealing CDs."

FYI

The Kane County state's attorney's office analyzed which police departments and other agencies requested and were granted felony criminal charges during 2007. Below are area towns (and charging agencies), followed by the number of felony cases and its percentage of the total number of cases filed.

Elgin: 807 (21.2%)

Carpentersville: 316 (8.3%)

Kane County Sheriff: 283 (7.4%)

State's attorney's office: 127 (3.3%)

South Elgin: 123 (3.2%)

West Dundee: 120 (3.2%)

East Dundee: 46 (1.2%)

Gilberts: 17 (less than 1%)

Hampshire: 14 (less than 12%)

Algonquin: 12 (less than 1%)

Sleepy Hollow: 11 (less than 1%)

Huntley: 4 (less than 1%)

FYI

The Kane County state's attorney's office analyzed which police departments and other agencies requested and were granted felony criminal charges during 2007. Below are area towns (and charging agencies), followed by the number of felony cases and its percentage of the total number of cases filed.

Aurora: 1,124 (29.5%)

Kane County Sheriff: 283 (7.4%)

St. Charles: 182 (4.8%)

Batavia: 154 (4.1%)

State's attorney's office: 127 (3.3%)

North Aurora: 94 (2.5%)

Geneva: 80 (2.1%)

Sugar Grove: 43 (1.1%)

Elburn: 13 (less than 1%)

Campton Hills: 1 (less than 1%)