County sees dramatic 31 percent increase in rapes

The number of reported rapes in the county increased 31.5 percent last year, by far the biggest jump among violent crimes tracked in the Police Department's year-end crime statistics.

The stats were released yesterday and revealed the 96 rapes reported to county police in 2004. That was 23 more than the previous year.

Police Chief P. Thomas Shanahan said the department is analyzing each case and will prepare an explanation as to why rapes were up so dramatically.

Lt. William Krampf, commander of the county's Criminal Investigation Division, said more victims are reporting a rape has occurred, but there are also many...