"Concerned", I always have a high degree of situational awareness so 5 murders or 5000 murders I'm going to be the same person. But if you want to be able to say that something isn't an anomaly you're going to need more data.

But let's assume that you are 1000% correct in whatever you are assuming, what is the solution? If you know how to stop crime from growing I'm sure you will find yourself quite wealthy.

> What type of data do you require?

At least as much data as you have for "many years before that."

> Research each of the 5 homicides and see if there is a common thread.

I don't know if I'd start doing too much research because I wonder what we will find if we continue researching back through time. Especially in a state like Vermont where historically the variety of 'threads' hasn't been that varied lol.

What is or isn't a lot is relative to the location.

If you tell me there were 5 murders in Chicago last year I would probably faint from disbelief

https://news.wttw.com/2022/11/02/chicago-approaching-600-homicides-2022-police-say-shootings-killings-down-over-last-year