Crime & Safety

Thefts in Township Increase over 2012

Four larceny thefts were reported in May 2013, vs. none in the same month last year.

Written by Laura Silvius

Lock your cars and homes, township thefts appear to be on the rise.

At least, that's what data from the New Jersey State Police Unified Crime Report shows.

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State police collect the data they receive from local law enforcement and turn it into their Unified Crime Report, which tracks monthly and year-to-date crime statistics. 

The most recent crime report, updated on June 21 to include May statistics, shows there were four incidents of larceny theft in the township in May 2013. In May 2012 there were no such incidents.

Find out what's happening in Chathamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Technically New Jersey law does not use the word "larceny" to describe stealing, though many other states do. Garden State statutes rather use the word "theft." The Unified Crime Report uses both.

There was also one motor vehicle theft reported in May, according to state police data. Compared to the same month last year, there were none.

Chatham Township, like the borough, is generally a safe place to live, but in recent months the Chatham Township Police have sent out several press releases detailing home burglaries and motor vehicle thefts. Those reports are further authenticated by the Unified Crime Report Data. 

The increase is especially apparent when one looks at the year-to-date data on thefts, also included in the crime report. Between January and May 2012 there were five larceny thefts reported in Chatham Township. In the same five-month period in 2013, there were 19: 280 percent more than last year.

Automobile thefts reported in Chatham Township so far this year currently stand at two, compared to one in the first five months of 2012.

The news isn't all bad, though. The first five months of 2012 saw four reported incidents of simple assault (assault with hands, feet, etc.) in Chatham Township; there have been none reported so far this year. Burglary by forcible entry is also down from one incident in 2012 to none so far this year (in the above-mentioned home burglary, access was gained through an unlocked door.)

Thefts, however, prove to be one area where township residents should be on alert. The increase of 14 incidents in one year more than cover the spread of overall crime reported in the township, which was at 11 total incidents between January and May 2012 and is now at 21 incidents between January and May 2013.

That's an increase of 90.9 percent overall.

Look in the photos for a snapshot from the Unified Crime Report, and check back next month to see if the trend continues. 


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