A recent string of violent crime in Aitkin County has many residents concerned for their safety.

From burglaries to assaults, community members and law enforcement are trying to figure out how to put an end to the recent onslaught of violence.

LeAnn Wallace joins us... LeAnn I understand you spoke with a number of Aitkin County residents...what are they saying?

Alison there is a lot of fear throughout the community.
The most recent string of crimes really has people on edge.

Many told me they were too afraid to go on camera fearing retaliation...
Others said they miss the security they once felt in their town.

It's a very tight community and pretty much everybody knows everybody."

Phil Reeves has lived in Aitkin County for nearly 30–years.
He says the county he's grown to love over the years has taken a violent turn for the worse.

"I just wish that a lot of this violence that seems to be increasing recently, we got to get that down for the community's sake, especially this last ordeal."

The last ordeal he's referring to is when three men were violently assaulted at Lucky's Landing Bar and Café in Tamarak over the weekend.

Two people were stabbed...one of them nearly died.
Aitkin County Sheriff Scott Turner says this isn't an isolated episode...crime in other areas is also on the rise.

"We've probably seen somewhat of an increase in our property crimes our burglaries and that's following a trend of over the last ten years of a steady decrease in burglaries and lately they're up a little bit."

Sheriff Turner says the next step is figuring out who is committing these crimes. He says the tough economy may be playing a role.

It's not uncommon during hard economic times that some of these crimes increase."

Reeves says it's an unfortunate turn of events and he feels for community members.

You know this is a really small town and really great people that are here and I hate to see this type of garbage go on in this really tight community."

Reeves is planning to meet with residents to develop a plan of action to help make the community a safer place to live.

Thanks LeAnn