Robbery rate jumps in Montgomery Co.

Though crime in Montgomery County rose only 1 percent last year, the number of commercial robberies leaped nearly 43 percent, jumping from 133 in 2004 to 190 in 2005.

There also was an increase in the total number of robberies, including muggings. Incidents of robbery rose more than 31 percent in a county where 1 in 12 people is likely to be a victim of a crime. The number of murders, rapes and theft also increased.