Associated Press - November 21, 2009 12:34 PM ET

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) - Officials in the northern Idaho city of Coeur d'Alene say an increase in robberies could be due to people trying to support drug habits.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Christie Wood tells the Coeur d'Alene Press the main reason people are driven toward violent crimes are drugs.

The number of robberies in Coeur d'Alene so far this year is 22, one more than all of last year.

Since August, there have been 14 robbery attempts. That's four more than during the same stretch last year.

Information from: Coeur d'Alene Press, http://www.cdapress.com

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