Mahwah December 1, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Chief cautions about township crime statistics by Frank J. McMahon The new Uniform Crime Report issued by Attorney General Paula T. Dow includes statistics that indicate a drop in the township’s 2009 crime rates in all but one category, but Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli cautioned that those statistics could be misleading. Batelli pointed out that the UCR is a good baseline because every law enforcement agency in the United States fills out the same report and submits it to their respective state police departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, so there is some standardization. However, he emphasized that the report includes many pitfalls for the uninformed reader. The statistics in the UCR for Mahwah indicate that burglaries rose from 13 in 2008 to 16 in 2009, but the category for all violent crimes decreased from seven to six; the number of aggravated assaults dropped from six to five; the violent crime rate dropped from 0.3 to 0.2; all property crimes dropped from 195 to 148; the number of larceny incidents dropped from 155 to 127; motor vehicle thefts dropped from 27 to 5; the number of arson crimes dropped from one to zero; and the property crime rate dropped from 8.0 percent to 6.1 percent. Statewide, the UCR shows the overall crime rate dropped nine percent compared to 2008 with a significant 15 percent drop in the number of murders reported in 2009. Total violent crime decreased four percent from 28,281 reported incidents to 27,108, the eighth consecutive year of a drop in the violent crime index. Rape decreased four percent from 1,090 to 1,041. Robberies decreased eight percent from 12,694 to 11,637; aggravated assaults decreased lessthan one-half percent from 14,121 to 14,110; and the number of murders dropped in 2009 from 376 to 320, the lowest reported murder rate in a decade, according to Dow. Batelli explained that the UCR only tracks certain crimes referred to as “index crimes,” which are broken down into violent and non-violent crimes. Violent crimes are murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Non-violent property crimes are burglary, larceny, or motor vehicle theft, and arson. “These are the crimes that create the Serving the needs of all small businesses Weekly/Bi Weekly Payroll Processing & Delivery Federal & State Payroll Taxes Payments & Forms Electronically Transmitted BK BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL SERVICE, LLC Bring You Over 23 Years of Bookkeeping/Accounting Experience Annmarie Breeman & Nancy Kough QUICKBOOKS PRO SPECIALISTS Set Up & Maintain Your Business In QuickBooks Pro 2007 Full Accounting Program Book All Your Data & Financial Information in QuickBooks Pro Along with Reconciling to Your Bank Statements. Customized Financials & Reporting According to Your Company’s Needs. BOOKKEEPING/ACCOUNTING crime rates that are often written about in the news media to indicate that violent crime is down while property crime is up,” Batelli said. But he explained that under the “hierarchy rule,” some crimes are not reported because, when there is one incident that results in various charges, only the most serious crime is reported. In addition, Batelli explained that only arrest data is reported for the UCR in another category of offenses, known as Part II offenses, and not the actual number of offenses. “If no arrest is made for one of those offenses, then it is not even reported,” Batelli said, explaining that Part II offenses include a variety of crimes such as fraud, weapons offenses, drug abuse violations, liquor law violations, disorderly conduct, simple assault, sex offenses other than forcible rape and commercialized vice, vandalism, criminal mischief, stolen property, and buying, receiving, possessing stolen property, and embezzlement. “So, as you can see, the majority of offenses do not come into play in the crime rates in the UCR,” Batelli said. “Our agency (continued on page 11) Phone: 973-423-0303 Fax: 973-423-3131 bkbookpay@optonline.net Secor Farms  Christmas Trees  Wreaths  Poinsettias  Holiday Greens  Holiday Decorations secorfarms.com 85 Airmont Ave • Mahwah, NJ 07430 201-529-2595 Mon, Tues, Wed, Sat & Sun – 8:00 - 6:00 • Thurs & Fri – 8:00 - 8:00 12-1-10 JOAN/JANINE SecorFarmsHoliday3x3Color(12-1-10) 3x3” Keeping Families Warm Since 1929. Serving All Your Home Heating Needs Prompt, Reliable Service You Can Depend On, Plus The Personal Attention You Deserve. • Oil Heat Systems Serviced & Installed • Automatic Fuel Oil Deliveries • Tank Insurance Available Cash ts Discoun il O On Heating s Deliverie 24 Hour Emergency 201-891-1000 Service �����������������������