Mt. Laurel’s crime rate for the first half of 2013 is up 11.1 percent in comparison to the same period of time in 2012, according to the state’s recently released Uniform Crime Reporting statistics.
The reason for the jump can be attributed mostly to burglary, which saw a 13.8 percent increase, larceny, with a 16 percent increase, and motor vehicle theft, which increased 20 percent.
Lt. Stephen T. Riedener of the Mt. Laurel Police Department said that an increase in crime for the first six months does not indicate it will continue to rise for the rest of the year.
“The numbers tend to stay relatively close year-to-year so it is difficult to compare month-to-month. We’ve seen in the past that a three-month or six-month window may say one thing but throughout the year it balances out,” Riedener said.
Violent crimes, including assaults and robberies dropped across the board, in some areas by enormous percentages but that can be attributed to the small number of certain crimes. For example, robberies committed with firearms dropped by 100 percent but only from one to zero.
“With such small numbers of certain crimes, a fluctuation of one or two changes the percentages significantly,” Riedener said.
Riedener attributed successes the department has seen to its implementation of Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety, or DDACTS
Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety is a law enforcement operational model supported by a partnership among the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and two agencies of the Department of Justice. DDACTS integrates location-based crime and traffic data to establish effective and efficient methods for deploying law enforcement and other resources. Using geo-mapping to identify areas that have high incidences of crime and crashes, DDACTS uses traffic enforcement strategies that play a dual role in fighting crime and reducing crashes and traffic violations. Drawing on the deterrent of highly visible traffic enforcement and the knowledge that crime often involves the use of motor vehicles, the goal of DDACTS is to reduce crime, crashes and traffic violations across the township.
“DDACTS allows us to do more with less. Analyze where offenses are occurring, what are potential hotspots and assign officers to those areas accordingly,” Riedener said.
In analyzing where crimes are taking place, the department has tried to respond accordingly.
“We know that the business areas, hotels on Route 73 are a target for crime. When looking at our press releases anyone can see a lot of the thefts are out of hotel rooms or cars in those areas,” Riedener said. “We’re working to have a visible presence in those areas as a deterrent.”
As far as what residents can do to lower their risk of property being stolen, Riedener’s advice is surprisingly simple.
“We’re always shocked at the things people leave unsecured in an unlocked car. Laptops, iPods, iPhones, just in clear view,” Reidener said. “Rolling up the windows, making sure the doors are locked and taking valuables with you all would make a difference. It sounds simple but it would go a long way.”
