Report: Burglary, theft top local crime list

Allentown, Roosevelt and Washington see slight increases in crime rate.

By: Ken Weingartner
   According to the Uniform Crime Report released last week by the State Police, crime rates increased in Allentown, Roosevelt and Washington while dropping in Millstone, Plumsted and Upper Freehold.
   Most of the increases could be attributed to burglary and theft, according to the State Police’s annual report. In 2000, burglary and theft accounted for 94.4 percent of the 444 total incidents reported in the six Messenger-Press municipalities.
   In the category of violent crime — which is made up of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault — a total of 25 incidents were reported. The majority (18) were aggravated assault. There was one murder reported locally in 2000. The incident occurred outside the McDonald’s on Route 537 in Millstone when a Seaside Heights woman was stabbed to death, allegedly by her estranged husband, who lived in Pennsylvania.
Allentown
   The borough’s crime rate increased from 18.5 incidents per 1,000 residents in 1999 to 22.3 incidents in 2000. The figures were 25.7 incidents per 1,000 people in 1998 and 12.8 in 1997. According to census numbers, the population of Allentown was 1,882 last year.
   Overall incidents of crime increased from 36 in 1999 to 42 in 2000. Violent crime dropped from five incidents reported in 1999 to none last year. There was one robbery and four aggravated assaults in 1999.
   Burglary increased from three incidents in 1999 to 10 in 2000 while theft increased from 26 to 29 during that time. There were three thefts of motor vehicles in 2000, up one from the previous year. Domestic violence cases increased from two in 1999 to five in 2000.
   Crime in Allentown accounted for 0.3 percent of all incidents reported in Monmouth County. The borough employed five officers in 2000, a decrease of two from 1999.
Millstone
   The crime rate for 2000 in Millstone was 9.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, a drop from 12.5 in 1999. In 1998, the rate was 14.8 and in 1997 it was 15.3 incidents reported per 1,000 people. The 2000 population, according to census figures, was 8,970 residents.
   Total incidents of crime dropped from 96 in 1999 to 85 in 2000. Violent crime remained the same, three incidents were reported each of the past two years. In 1999, there was one robbery and two aggravated assaults; in 2000, there was one murder and two aggravated assaults.
   Burglary increased from 25 incidents in 1999 to 26 in 2000, but reports of theft dropped from 63 to 51. Motor vehicle theft remained the same as in 1999, when five incidents were reported. Three arsons were reported in 2000, compared to none the previous year. Domestic violence cases increased from 23 in 1999 to 26 in 2000.
Crime in the township accounted for 0.6 percent of all incidents reported in Monmouth County. The State Police patrol Millstone.
Plumsted
   Crime dropped from 12.6 incidents per 1,000 residents in 1999 to 8.4 incidents in 2000. According to the census, the population of Plumsted was 7,275 in 2000.
   Total incidents of crime dropped from 91 in 1999 to 61 in 2000. Violent crime remained the same, with seven incidents reported each of the last two years. In 2000, six aggravated assaults and one rape were reported; in 1999, seven aggravated assaults were reported.
   Burglary dropped from 22 incidents in 1999 to seven in 2000 while theft decreased from 57 in 1999 to 38 last year. Motor vehicle theft, however, increased from five in 1999 to nine in 2000. One case of arson was reported each of the last two years. Domestic violence incidents decreased by one, from 51 cases in 1999 to 50 last year.
   Crime in Plumsted accounted for 0.5 percent of all incidents reported in Ocean County. The township had nine police officers in 2000, an increase of one from the previous year.
Roosevelt
   The crime rate per 1,000 residents jumped from 3.4 in 1999 to 11.8 last year. The figure was 4.5 in 1998 and 7.9 in 1997. According to census data, the population of Roosevelt was 933 last year.
   Overall incidents of crime increased from three in 1999 to 11 in 2000. There was one incident of violent crime, an aggravated assault, reported last year; no violent crime was reported in 1999.
   Theft increased from no incidents in 1999 to six in 2000, and burglaries increased from three to four. Two arsons were reported in 2000, compared to none in 1999. Domestic violence incidents dropped from six in 1999 to four in 2000.
   Crime in the borough accounted for less than one-tenth of a percent of all incidents reported in Monmouth County. The State Police patrol Roosevelt.
Upper Freehold
   In Upper Freehold Township, the crime rate last year was 9.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, a drop from 13.7 incidents per 1,000 people in 1999. The crime rate for 2000 matches the rate from 1997. In 1998, the rate jumped to 15.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, an increase authorities largely attributed to juvenile criminal mischief.
   The population last year for the township, according to the 2000 census, was 4,282 residents.
   Total incidents of crime dropped from 54 in 1999 to 40 in 2000. No violent crime was reported. In 1999, there were three incidents of violent crime, all aggravated assault. Burglaries increased from 12 in 1999 to 14 in 2000, but theft dropped from 35 to 21. Motor vehicle theft increased by one (to five incidents) while reports of domestic violence doubled, from four in 1999 to eight in 2000.
   Crime in Upper Freehold accounted for 0.3 percent of all incidents reported in Monmouth County. The State Police patrol the township.
Washington
   Crime in the township increased slightly, from 19.9 incidents per 1,000 residents in 1999 to 20.0 incidents in 2000. The rate was 25.7 in 1998 and 23.0 in 1997. The population of Washington last year was 10,275, according to the census.
   Total incidents of crime increased from 170 in 1999 to 205 in 2000. Violent crime increased by one last year, up to 14 incidents reported. There were two rapes, three robberies and nine incidents of aggravated assault. The numbers are nearly identical to 1999, when there was two rapes, three robberies and eight aggravated assaults reported.
   Burglaries increased from 18 in 1999 to 34 in 2000 while theft jumped from 122 incidents to 141. Motor vehicle theft dropped from 17 reports in 1999 to 16 last year. Domestic violence cases increased from 105 in 1999 to 119 in 2000. Bias crimes dropped from five to two.
   Total crime in Washington accounted for 1.5 percent of all incidents reported in Mercer County last year. The township employed 29 police officers in 2000, an increase of two from the previous year.