When the Weehawken Police Department officially submitted its 2005 crime statistics to the New Jersey State Police last week, it revealed one predominant theme. Overall crime in the township has decreased for the 10th straight year and the numbers are the lowest since 1973.
According to Weehawken Public Safety Director Jeff Welz, the overall crime index for calendar year 2005 was 351 reported crimes, a 15 percent drop from 2004, when 413 crimes were reported in the township.
“That’s a pretty substantial decrease,” Welz said. Weehawken showed a drop in most of the crime statistical categories. The biggest dip was in auto breaking and entering, which dropped from 102 reported in 2004 to 69 last year, a drop of 32 percent. Auto theft overall dropped from 65 in 2004 to 54 in 2005 – a decrease of 17 percent.
Violent crimes (rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults and homicide) dropped 16 percent from 24 reported in 2004 to 20 in 2005. Robbery went down from 10 reported in 2004 to six in 2005.
Welz pointed out that two of the violent crimes reported were assaults against police officers while on duty, handling arrests.
There were no homicides in the township in 2005, compared to one in 2004, a fatal shooting on New Year’s Eve that year.
Larceny, which is just general theft without forced entry, like shoplifting, dropped 16 percent, from 142 to 119 in 2005.
Slight increase in one category
However, there was a slight increase in burglaries, a six percent increase from 80 in 2004 to 85 reported last year. This appears to be a trend; neighboring Hoboken, which dropped in most crime categories, also had a rise in burglaries last year.
“We have to look at what caused the increase in burglaries,” Welz said. “We will analyze the increase and take the proper corrective steps.”
Regarding the overall numbers, Welz said, “We’re extremely proud. I think it’s a combination of a couple of things. It’s the efforts of our police officers who make our people safe. The programs that we have put into place have proven to work. And we get the support of the township officials who have been able to allow us to maintain personnel, give us the ability to constantly have new hiring so that we can keep up the good work.”
Added Welz, “Police salaries are an expensive part of municipal government. We’re fortunate to be able to maintain those levels and continue a drop in crime every year.”
The township’s high-water crime mark came in 1991, when a whopping 1,104 crimes were reported that year.
“Now, with the 351 this year, we’ve brought the index below 1973 levels,” Welz said.
In 1973, there were 370 crimes reported. In 1972, the total was 315. The 2005 figures fall in between those two figures.
Welz pointed out two dramatic statistical drops. Larceny figures were at 581 in 1991 and is now at 119. Auto theft, which was traditionally a problem in a high-volume parking area like Weehawken, was at 230 in 1991 and now stands at 54.
“Those are significant drops,” Welz said.
In recent years, the Weehawken Police Department instituted an anti-crime force, and with the rapid decline in the crime figures, it proves that the program is indeed working.
“The police have done an outstanding job with all the special details, like motorcycle patrol, bicycle patrol, and foot patrols,” Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said. “We have put a heavy influence on patrols, but also a heavy influence on deterrent. By beefing up the department, we’ve been able to utilize the variety of patrols and been able to decrease crime numbers that far exceed the state average. We’re very proud of that and it’s a tremendous effort to bring the crime level down once again.”
Protect yourself
Turner pointed out that the crime reduction shouldn’t mean that residents should be totally secured with their homes and cars.
“There has always been crime and always will be crime,” Turner said. “Just because we have great crime numbers, we can’t let our guards down. Some neighborhoods are feeling secure that they are letting their guard down with unlocked doors and unprotected windows. They shouldn’t feel so secure.”
But the crime figures are a boon to the township.
“It makes Weehawken property values go sky high,” Turner said. “It’s a desirable community to live in with safe neighborhoods. I commend the officers of the Weehawken police department for their hard work and dedication and we hope for more of the same in the future.”