In December Franklin was ranked as the 7th safest city in all of Wisconsin.

That may have come as quite a surprise to the increasing number of Franklin crime victims in 2017.

In June the city police department issued a crime alert:

In the past few days, the Franklin Police Department has taken several complaints throughout the city regarding thefts from vehicles – both locked and unlocked. Items such as computers, cameras, clothing, wallets, purses, and credit cards have been taken. The stolen credits cards were fraudulently used in the Milwaukee area. On one occasion, an unlocked vehicle (with a set of keys left in it) was stolen from a resident’s driveway.

Another alert was sent out in August:

Lock your doors – VEHICLES, HOUSES AND GARAGE DOORS!

There has been an increase in entries to vehicles, garages and houses in the city, as well as in other communities surrounding the City of Milwaukee. Theft of vehicles have increased considerably in the past month. The wide majority of these entries and thefts were through unlocked doors. Please remember to always keep your doors locked, valuables (including keys) out of plain sight, and park in well lit areas. We recommend you bring in your garage door opener if you park outside. Officers have been and will continue to place “Lock It or Lose It” notices on vehicles observed parked overnight. The police department has increased patrols in the affected parts of the city.

While the police department will do everything we can to stop these crimes, we need your assistance. By locking your doors you minimize the chances of you becoming a victim. We ask that if you see any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity, report it to the Franklin PD at 414-425-2522. Let’s all watch out for one another!

It’s bad enough criminals were striking in Franklin. Some were doing with the help of careless residents. Did you catch this in that first alert:

Franklin was freaking. Well, not everyone as I wrote in July.

Ironically in April, before Franklin’s crime wave erupted, GOP lawmakers were proposing bills to combat crime moving into the suburbs.

As 2017 came to a close the Franklin Police Department participated in the Suburban Violent Crimes Task Force.  Get more details in this report from Fox 6 News.

We can and we must make Franklin a safer place in 2018.

THE TOP 10 FRANKLIN STORIES OF 2017

1) ?
2) CRIME WAVE HITS FRANKLIN
3) ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER TOUGH ONE FOR TAXPAYERS
4) FRANKLIN REMAINS A RETAIL SIEVE
5) WHEEL TAX WAKES UP FRANKLIN TAXPAYERS
6) LOYAL VOLUNTEER DUMPED
7) SODA BOMBS ARRESTS
8) FRANKLIN’S AWARD-WINNING JEWEL
9) POLITICAL BULLYING
10) CHAIRGATE RETURNS