CHARLESTON, SC - With 8 major crimes taking place in the Lowcountry in just the past week, it might have you wondering if crime is trending higher.

On Wednesday, the First Federal Bank on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston was robbed.

Two days later, another First Federal, the St. James Avenue branch in Goose Creek was hit.

Also on Friday, 3 suspects broke into an apartment in the Windsor Hill neighborhood near North Charleston as part of a home invasion. They ended up shooting one man in the arm.

On Saturday, a man was found shot to death in a car in Moncks Corner.

Also on Saturday, the Dollar General in Summerville on Ladson road was robbed.

On Monday, another pair of serious crimes. A 79 year old man in Cross was shot and beaten outside his grocery store.

Then a woman says she was carjacked and then taken to a house and raped in West Ashley.

On Tuesday, the BB&T bank in Summerville on Main Street was robbed.

Arrests have been made in several cases. The BB&T robbery, the 79 year old shooting case and the man found dead in Moncks Corner all have people behind bars and charged for the crimes.

We spoke with several law enforcement representatives in the area. They say they are not seeing a big increase in serious crime in the area. As an example, the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office says they had 86 armed robberies in 2009, 86 in 2010 and they are on track to hit about that number this year.

If you have any information on any of these cases, call Crime Stoppers at 554-1111. You can also give a tip online at www.5541111.com.

Source: http://www2.counton2.com/news/2011/may/25/8-major-crimes-lowcountry-last-week-ar-1889544/

If you, or someone you know, have any information regarding any crime, you are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers. You could earn a reward up to $1,000.

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