"We will not arrest crime away. It will move," Smith told a group of civic leaders, educators and residents during a crime symposium at the Hampton Inn.

The city's hot spot for crime last year was in the Lenoir-Vernon avenues area. When police concentrated their efforts there, activity fell. It moved this year to a neighborhood that encompasses Mitchell-Wooten and Carver Courts public housing complexes.

"We've spent most of our time there this year," Smith said.

And now crime is moving into the Jack Rountree area and to Old Snow Hill Road.Drug crimes, on the other hand, were most prevalent last year in the Independence-King-Martin Luther King-Grainger streets neighborhood.

Marijuana is the most popular drug, resulting in 51.8 percent of cases. Cocaine, crack and powder, is responsible for 38.4 percent of drug problems. Less than one-half percent is attributed to methamphetamines, which are said to be a more serious problem in the county. Heroin and similar drugs account for 9.4 percent of other drug deals.

Crime is high in public housing areas, Smith said, but those areas are densely populated. Ridding the city of assisted housing is impractical and would only cause people to move to other cities or to live in the streets.

"Crime is an effect from the community," he told the group.

Downtown and the east side are the most crime-ridden, followed by the northern area of the city. The west side sees the least crime, according to Public Safety Department statistics. The Bright Street area below King Street is where the most robberies are committed. Vernon Park Mall is also a popular spot for robberies, most of which are purse snatchings.

Some crimes show a decrease in the last few years. In 1989, the city had 15 homicides. So far this year, Kinston has had only two. Both were gang-related.

Comdr. Greg Thompson, who heads the investigation division, said his department has a 97 percent clearance rate on murders.

Robberies last year accounted for 44 cases. The number so far this year is 41.

One area of crime that continues to increase is identity theft. Smith said 42 percent of financial crimes involve identity theft.

A new program to be introduced within the next couple of weeks will have police officers assigned to neighborhoods. These officers will be knocking on doors, introducing themselves, talking with residents, observing conditions in the neighborhood and giving residents information about how to contact them if a situation arises that needs special attention.

"They'll be able to ask for a specific officer," Smith said. "The officers will be able to see trends in the neighborhoods."

Smith and his department heads are available to talk to civil groups, churches or other organizations. To arrange a visit, call Crime/Life Safety Educator Woody Spencer at 939-3220.

NEXT: The gang situation in Kinston: Who are they, where are they, how can you identify them