Robberies, Burglaries in Fair Lawn Have Doubled Since 2009
Other index crimes have remained relatively stable over the same period
While Fair Lawn's reported crime rate has been decreasing steadily for the past decade, even reaching a decade-low mark in 2010, certain categories of crime -- namely robberies and burglaries -- have made a resurgence of late.
Since 2009, the annual number of robberies and burglaries in town have both doubled, according to monthly Uniform Crime Data provided by the Fair Lawn Police Department.
Robberies were at a six-year high in 2011, and burglaries last year reached levels not seen since 2002.
The numbers substantiate perceptions that Chief Erik Rose and a number of officers had that burglaries had increased in 2011.
Larcenies, or simple thefts, which officers also previously perceived to have jumped, have actually remained relatively stable since 2008.
Despite maintaining staff levels of only 54 officers for the majority of the year, most crimes -- both violent and non-violent -- saw little to no change from past years. Aggravated assaults actually decreased markedly.
Through November, the police department's clearance rate -- which measures its efficiency in solving crimes -- was down more than 20 percent from 2010. However, at 33 percent of offenses cleared, the FLPD was still well ahead of the Bergen County average.
Click here to find UCR data from 1990 to 2010
Click here for more info on the Uniform Crime Reporting Methodology
For a full breakdown of the last five years of Fair Lawn's UCR data:
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011* | |
| Murder | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Robbery | 7 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 15 |
| Burglary | 62 | 45 | 35 | 58 | 68 |
| Larceny | 319 | 292 | 309 | 289 | 268 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 |
* 2011 crime statistics do not include December data, which is not yet available
Welcome2012
4:25 pm on Monday, January 2, 2012
Zak, this is why crime rose, blame Christie for his cuts and policies, he will be visiting soon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmMdSQqGp2k&feature=related
Donvito
8:04 pm on Monday, January 2, 2012
make sure you bring some snacks, you might get his attention!!
*
4:34 pm on Monday, January 2, 2012
DISGUSTING! These numbers existed when the Governing Body laid off 4 officers and they CHOSE to ignore it while placing residents and the Police Officers in hatms way for the sake of falsely claiming a zero base tax increase!
T.Maher
8:19 pm on Monday, January 2, 2012
the have nots want, and are taking , from the haves, and this trend will increase as the amount of people getting desperate in this failing economy grow
Chris Antonelli
12:44 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The FLPD is doing what they can. Even if you put 4 more PO's on a patrol, you're not getting one on every street 24 hours a day. Crime is up due to the economy, not the PD. Fair Lawn isn't the only town in America experiencing this.
Bruce Knuckle
6:43 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Chris, A better Police presence would push them elsewhere
John C
10:46 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
No one is blaming the Police. From what I am reading the blame is being placed on the Governor and the council.