Fair Lawn's Index Crimes Reached 4-Year High in 2011

Fair Lawn's increase in index crimes over the past four years is due almost entirely to a jump in burglaries.

Fair Lawn's total index crimes reached a four-year high in 2011, largely on account of the rapidly growing number of burglaries in the borough since 2008, according to a Patch analysis of the just-released 2011 Uniform Crime Report. The 2011 report found that violent crime in Fair Lawn remained flat from the year before, but the borough's non-violent crime -- spurred on by the jump in burglaries -- has increased steadily since 2008. In addition to burglaries, which have more than doubled since 2009, robberies also spiked in 2011 -- doubling from the year before. Unofficial 2012 UCR data shows, however, that while burglaries have remained elevated this year, robberies have dropped back down to pre-2011 levels. According to UCR data, Fair …

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es

9:22 am on Wednesday, December 26, 2012

I'm mostly sure that @Jules was attempting humor. Actually homeowners can not shoot "burglars" in the act, because if they are home it's robbery. If the homeowners instead are staked out behind the bushes, it's manslaughter.   more ›

Fair Lawn Burglaries Slowed Over Summer

The number of commercial burglaries plummeted over the summer, according to police department records.

Burglaries, which had been occurring at unprecedented rates earlier this year, slowed significantly over the summer. Following a three-month rash of commercial burglaries this spring -- 24 non-residential break-ins occurred from March through May -- commercial burglaries have dropped off dramatically. There were only three over the summer, according to Uniform Crime Reports provided by the police department. Residential break-ins, on the other hand, have remained mostly steady, with between two-and-five home burglaries registered during any given month since February. On the year, burglaries — up 13 percent — and larcenies — up 16 percent — are elevated compared to last year, but total index crimes are almost exactly in line with 2011. The…

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Zak Koeske

12:44 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012

@LawyerJim - FLPD arrested a Paterson man a couple weeks ago who is suspected in a couple recent burglaries from construction sites. Here's that story: http://patch.com/A-xCPn Otherwise, I wasn't aware of any serial Fair Lawn burglars who were caught. As far as I know, the man suspected in many of the commercial burglaries this spring is still on the loose. I'll check with the police though. You …   more ›

Commercial Burglaries Down Sharply Since May

Even with commercial burglaries down dramatically since May, the number of burglaries and larcenies committed in Fair Lawn this year still surpasses last year's pace.

Over the past two months, Fair Lawn's rash of commercial burglaries -- 24 within the three-month period from March through May -- have halted as abruptly and dramatically as they appeared. During June and July, non-residential burglaries -- which accounted for more than 70 percent of the 33 burglaries from March through May -- have all but vanished, according to Uniform Crime Reports provided by the police department.  Residential break-ins, on the other hand, have remained mostly steady, with between two-and-five home burglaries registered during any given month since February. Burglaries -- up 20 percent -- and larcenies -- up 15 percent -- are still elevated compared to last year, but total index crimes are almost exactly in line with …

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Update: Police Make Arrest in Morning Home Burglary

A second suspect wanted in connection with the burglary is still at large, police said.

Updated at 12 p.m. Friday, April 13 Police arrested one individual in connection with a Wednesday morning home burglary and remain on the hunt for a second suspect who is still at large, Detective Lt. Michael Uttel said. Jose L. Nieves, 22, of Newark, was arrested and charged with burglary after police stopped him driving a black BMW that allegedly had been spotted pulling away from the scene of a reported burglary on Elaine Terrace earlier that morning, police said. Around 11:30 a.m., police responded to a call from a vigilant neighbor who reported a burglary in progress at 8-03 Elaine Terrace. Police said the neighbor witnessed the passenger of a black BMW 5 series parked on Elaine Terrace get out of the car, walk to the rear of a nearby…

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Fair Lawn Burglaries, Larcenies Up 50 Percent This Year

March was one of the worst recent months on record for burglaries and larcenies in Fair Lawn

The number of burglaries in Fair Lawn, which were already at a nine-year high in 2011, have continued to rise through the first three months of 2012. The town's burglary rate, which doubled between 2009 and 2011, is up by another 50 percent through March this year, according to monthly Uniform Crime Data provided by the Fair Lawn Police Department. If burglaries continue at their current clip, Fair Lawn will experience its first year with more than 100 burglaries since 2002 -- more than triple the number of burglaries that it had just three years ago. Due to the increase in daytime burglaries, police distributed a news release in late February urging residents to take greater care to maintain the security of their homes and vehicles. Thus …

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The Most Interesting Man in the World

9:58 am on Monday, April 16, 2012

@ Zak, I understand it is news and you highlighted the parts the FL residents would have most concern over, which is larceny, burglaries and robberies, which mostly has to do with taking property. The numbers are the numbers. To your credit you did not speak to the violent crime aspect. However, look at the reaction, everything from concern over rape to taking up arms. You could hire a policeman …   more ›

Manager's Budget Would Freeze New Police Hiring

Proposed budget does not allocate funding for the hiring of additional Fair Lawn police officers

The manager's budget, introduced Tuesday, bucks the police chief's request for more manpower and maintains Fair Lawn's police force at its current bare bones staff level in 2012. "The chief had requested four new hires in his budget," borough manager Tom Metzler said at Tuesday's budget meeting. "That money was cut. That's one of the ways that we got under cap." There are 55 members on the force now, down from the 64 officers Fair Lawn had as recently as late 2009 -- which itself was considered low at the time, according to a 2011 state police study. The study noted that, based on its population, Fair Lawn would need 73 officers to attain the average rate in Bergen County and 76 officers to attain the rate of the state police. While the …

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Michael Agosta

3:19 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2012

I have no interest in running for council. However, Baratta and Trawinski will not be seeking reelection in 2013. Their handler, Alan Marcus, made them promise to finish their terms and not seek reelection. I officially started the Fair Lawn Republican Organization. When I complete my deployment, the organization will be fully active. I have the bylaws and a few officers already. If you are a …   more ›

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 …

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Week in Review

Fair Lawn Week in Review (Nov. 14 - Nov. 18)

Missed any of this week's coverage? It's all here

Monday, Nov. 14 DPW: Rogue Landscapers Contributing to Slow Storm Cleanup The Department of Public Works has been out daily in the two-plus weeks since the snowstorm to retrieve broken branches and tree limbs scattered across town, but progress has been slow. Conte said calls from residents requesting debris pick-up have been pouring in, but that it could take another three weeks to a month before everything in town is cleared. Remnants of debris left by the storm still adorn Fair Lawn's streets, in large part, DPW Supervisor Ron Conte said, because of rogue landscapers who have taken advantage of the situation and tossed their own yard waste into the streets rather than dispose of it properly. Radburn Players Perform 'Rabbit Hole' For …

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Don't Jump to Conclusions About Crime Rates, Police Advise

According to the Uniform Crime Report released last week by the Attorney General, index crimes hit a decade-low in Fair Lawn in 2010

News that Fair Lawn experienced a decade-low rate of index crime in 2010 may serve as confirmation to residents who already feel safe in town. Just like data from the same report showing that burglaries and domestic violence cases rose significantly in 2010 may give credence to residents who already perceive Fair Lawn to be a more dangerous place than in the past. The same set of raw numbers, when crunched, may end up yielding entirely different conclusions based on who’s doing the interpreting. It’s all about the personal perceptions and biases that residents bring into the situation, Fair Lawn Police Chief Erik Rose said. Statistics are helpful, he said, as long as you recognize the inherent variations from year to year.  “Years when …

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