In Lakewood, burglaries and property crimes apparently dropped so much that the FBI believed the numbers were underreported and did not include them in its report. The Lakewood Police Department reported that burglaries were cut in half, from 526 in 2008 to 260 last year, according to the department’s crime analyst, Karen Mayers. Property crimes fell by more than 30 percent, from 1,424 to 991.
Mayers said a state audit three months ago found the counts to be accurate. Such audits are normal, she said, when a significant or unusual increase or decrease is spotted. In 2008, the FBI determined Lakewood’s statistics on violent crime and aggravated assault were overreported.
According to the township, violent crimes dropped by 44 percent and aggravated assault by 50 percent from 2008 to last year. Asked why changes like these did not draw the state’s attention, Mayers deferred to the State Police, which could not confirm any information late Monday.
Lakewood Police Chief Robert Lawson stood by his 2009 statistics. He attributed the drops to a national downward trend in crime combined with good police work and residents’ vigilance.
Department Spokesman Lt. William Addison blamed the appearance of underreporting to a spike in residential development in 2008 that attracted more property crime such as burglaries and thefts at construction sites. The numbers have since dropped as the housing construction leveled and residents took better precautions, he said.
“It was open house there for a while,” Addison said. “It took us some time to get people to start locking their doors and windows.” Read full article in APP.
Wow good job lpd keep it up.
Thank you LCSW . We look forward to you expanding your operations. You guys are heroes. Along with our Lakewood Police of course.
More frum in Lakewood may be part of the reason.
I agree with so many shooting, graffity, stolen strollers etc. it sounds like under reported!
With the amount of shootings we had in the recent months I don’t know how this is being said. It might be that burglaries are down but it sure look’s like the gang crime is up and traffic crimes I would think are up as well.
It should be evident by now that MR Hershkowitz is accomplishing much. We must thank him for all his efforts and hard work.
Let see where these numbers stand next year when LPD goes through 18-20 retirements, and the TWP not hiring anybody until 2012
belive nothing that you hear and half what you see
This is for 2009. In 2010 we are having MUCH higher numbers. People WE need to report every theft! Please don’t be lazy and give into please saying its a waste of time!