Accomack Crimes up in 2023 up 4.6 Percent

A total of 1,167 crimes were reported in Accomack County in 2023, or 4.6 percent more than the previous year, according to the most recent figures compiled by the state police. But on the brighter side, reported crimes were down 27 percent compared to 2019, or just before the pandemic struck.

The Accomack County Sheriff’s Office handled 891 complaints last year. A breakdown showed 366 crimes against persons, two murders or non-negligent manslaughters, 16 rapes, 10 forcible rapes, five cases of forcible sodomy, a sexual assault with an object, nine forcible fondling, two cases of incest, 62 aggravated assaults, 261 simple assaults, 14 intimidations, 474 crimes against property, 30 burglaries, four counterfeiting or forgeries, 122 destruction, damage or vandalism of properties, six embezzlements, five extortions, 25 cases of obtaining money by false pretenses or swindles, 15 credit card or automatic teller frauds, an impersonation, seven welfare frauds, six wire frauds, 19 identity thefts, a hacking or computer invasion, 11 robberies, a pocket-picking, 18 shopliftings, a theft from a building, four thefts from vehicles, two thefts of motor vehicle parts or accessories, 170 other thefts, 25 vehicle thefts, a stolen property offense, 51 crimes against society, 23 drug or narcotic violations, a drug equipment violation, three pornography or obscene material offenses, 21 weapon law violations and three animal cruelty reports.

Also in 2023, the Chincoteague Police Department received 79 criminal reports with 27 involving crimes against persons. Onancock police handled 61 reports. Onley town officers received 68 reports. The Parksley Police Department had four. The state police handled 63 cases, and the Virginia Office of the Inspector General had one report.