Theft increased in several North Georgia counties over the last three years, and authorities blame car break-ins for a spike in 2010.
With the growing number of property crimes, authorities also are seeing new interest in Neighborhood Watch programs.
Statistics for 2010 show that thefts were up in Catoosa and Walker counties, to 738 and 200, respectively. Dade County had fewer thefts last year, though the number was up from 2008.
Chattooga County had fewer burglaries and thefts in 2010 than in prior years.
A growing trend of car break-ins in pockets of some counties is driving the rise in thefts, officials said.
