Phoenix Suburbs See Higher Crime Rate

City officials say the major crime rate in Surprise, Ariz., last year rose 30 percent. Surprise police tell The Arizona Republic they made big strides in caseloads, clearing 18 percent more of the most-serious crimes, such as rape, assault and robbery.

Glendale’s police say property crimes led to Glendale’s overall crime rate rising by 9 percent.

Police Chief Steve Conrad says he believes financial problems may be behind the overall increase in Glendale’s crime rate, which saw most categories of crimes decrease in recent years.

Peoria police spokesman Jay Davies says crime was up about 4.5 percent in the first three quarters of 2011. Davies says the department won’t have figures for the entire year until mid-February.