Weekend Economists Thanksgiving Leftovers November 29-30, 2014

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6. A Crime Surge Has Accompanied Wyoming's Oil Boom

http://www.businessinsider.com/a-crime-surge-has-accompanied-wyomings-oil-boom-2014-11

DOUGLAS, Wyo. (AP) — Law enforcement officials in east-central Wyoming say they're seeing more crimes committed by workers newly arrived to the area's booming oil fields and don't have enough police and jail space to handle the problem.

Serious crimes including aggravated assault and larceny are up 17 percent in the Douglas area since 2009, according to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

Emergency calls are up 9 percent from last year. Drug arrests are up from 37 in 2009 to 64 last year. And police were involved in two vehicle pursuits in September — the first in the city in three years, according to the Douglas Police Department.

"The industry is not picky," police Sgt. Matthew Schmidt said. "They need people who can physically stand the job, so they're not concerned about their conviction records."



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/a-crime-surge-has-accompanied-wyomings-oil-boom-2014-11#ixzz3KSlFAQcH