The Moniteau County Crime Watch met Tuesday, July 12, at the Latham Christian Church.
Sgt. Jason P. Clark of the Rural Crimes Investigative Unit was the guest speaker at the event which drew about 30 people.
Clark talked about the problem of rural crimes and how those crimes differ from the crimes in urban areas. With 97 of the 114 Missouri counties being rural, there is a great need for rural crimes investigators.
The rural investigators are involved in many different kinds of crimes including theft, arson, fraud and murder. Much of the crime rate is related to drugs, especially methamphetamine.
Clark said the average bank robbery nets $3,500 while the average cattle theft nets $18,000, with considerably less risk for the cattle thief.
For more of this story check out the July 20 issue of the California Democrat.