WASHINGTON – One of the wealthiest counties in America reports crime skyrocketing by 22 percent in the first quarter of 2008, while its neighbor saw crime plummet by 19.3 percent in the same time period – coinciding with a get-tough policy on illegal immigration.

Prince William County in Northern Virginia, a bedroom community for the nation's capital, made national news late last year with a crackdown on illegal immigration that supervisors believed was triggering higher crime and lower living standards.

Prince William County reported a 19.3 percent decline in crime, with chairman of the Board of County Supervisors Corey Stewart attributing the downturn to the hard line the county has taken toward illegal immigrants.

"One quarter doesn't tell us a lot," said county police spokeswoman Mary Ann Jennings. "It shows us where they may be some trends developing."

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Meanwhile, next door in Fairfax County, with the highest property values of any county in America, reports crime up 22 percent in the first quarter.

Of the seven categories used to evaluate crime statistics, only two categories, rape and robbery, showed declines. Between January 2008 and March 2008, there were 27 rapes countywide, eight less than that same period last year. There were 155 robberies in the first quarter of 2007 and 113 the first quarter this year.

Larcenies went up from from 2,851 in the first quarter of 2007 to 3,643 in 2008. Overall, property crimes, including burglary, larceny and car theft increased 24 percent.

Recent figures released by county police revealed a 6 percent increase in overall crime in 2007 compared with the previous year. Violent crime over that period increased by 4 percent.

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