Bayonne continues to be one of the safest cities in the state, according to unofficial 2014 crime statistics released by the New Jersey State Police last month and statements from Bayonne’s top cop.
But increases were seen in assaults with a knife or cutting instrument (66 percent, from 21 to 35) and simple assault (12 percent, from 274 to 307). There were also four rapes last year, compared to none in 2013.
Crime decreases were noted last year compared to 2013 in the categories of automobile thefts (41 percent, 63 to 37) and forcible entry burglaries (24 percent, 81 to 61).
Those figures come from the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) released by the state’s Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of State Police. Overall crime in Bayonne was down 1.5 percent from 2013 to 2014.
“We’ve been able to maintain a steady UCR rate for a number of years,” said Police Chief Drew Niekrasz. “It’s not a radical difference from year to year.”
“It’s not a radical difference from year to year.” – Police Chief Drew Niekrasz
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Niekrasz said raw numbers are more telling than overall percentage increases or decreases. For example, he said that a category like aggravated assault, with a 5.7 percent increase and only five additional incidents from ‘13-’14 (88 to 93), means the city had only about one additional case every two months over the previous year.
In the “larceny, theft” category, arrests went up 5.7 percent because of an additional 34 incidents. But Niekrasz noted that seven of those 34 arrests resulted from a decoy program launched last summer to address bicycles being stolen from transit hubs.
An investigation relating to a number of package thefts from homes during the holiday season last year resulted with one man being arrested for at least a quarter of those crimes.
One of ‘Urban 15’
In the 2013 completed UCR, Bayonne is part of the “Urban 15,” communities with populations of 50,000 or more. Those 15 cities represent almost a fifth of New Jersey’s population and historically account for one third of its reported crimes.
In that survey Bayonne fared well in 2013, with 139 violent crimes. Only Woodbridge Township (138) and Toms River (74) had fewer.
Though the Bayonne Police Department was buoyed by the recent investigation and arrest of a city man who allegedly shot a man at the DiDomenico-16th Street Park on April 26, the department continues to seek ways to improve. According to Niekrasz, it is currently undergoing a reaccreditation process, which includes updating policies and procedures on a regular basis.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.To comment on this story online visit www.hudsonreporter.com.