State Police Uniform Crime Report shows 14 percent drop in reported crime in East Windsor.
By: Dana Lynn Flatekval
EAST WINDSOR The number of reported crimes in the township dropped 14 percent last year, according to the State Police Uniform Crime Report.
The crime rate fell from 21.1 indexed crimes per 1,000 residents in 2002 to 17.1 in 2003.
A total of 454 crimes were reported in East Windsor in 2003, down from 526 in 2002.
Violent crimes, totaling 30 incidents, stayed the same in East Windsor. Nonviolent crimes dropped by 14 percent in 2003.
Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Nonviolent crimes are burglary, larceny (petty theft) and car theft.
Mayor Janice Mironov attributed the drop in nonviolent crimes to the "diligent" efforts of the Police Department and its staff.
"We have an effective and alert Police Department," she said. "We also have an overall positive community where everyone works together in efforts to prevent incidents of crime and effectively follow up to take criminals off the streets."
Mayor Mironov said that since last year, when the crime rate increased by 10 percent in the township, the Police Department has taken measures to increase patrols and increase crime prevention education for their officers.
The township experienced drops in nonviolent crime across the board, with 107 burglaries reported in 2002 and 82 reported in 2003. Larceny decreased by 53 incidents in 2003.
"I think what happened in some of those property crimes is that single people or groups were responsible for a number of these burglary and larceny offenses," Mayor Mironov said. "But the Police Department worked hard to make sure they were taken off the streets to reduce the number of offenses."
There were six additional motor vehicle thefts reported in 2003, up from 22 to 28.
Also, there were 181 domestic violence incidents reported in 2003, one less than 2002.
"We had a period of time where there was an increase in those numbers that were reported," the mayor said. "Those numbers are on their way down and will begin to decrease with the effect of police efforts and support of volunteers such as Domestic Violence Victims Response Team."
The DVVRT started in 1997 and was initiated by Womanspace and the East Windsor Police Department. East Windsor had the first team in the county.
In 2002, there were eight bias crimes reported. However, the number dropped to two in 2003.
Mayor Mironov said the drop in bias crimes was due to an increase in police patrols.
"All of our officers are well-trained and effective in handling the prevention of these types of crimes," she said. "The overall high quality and professionalism are certainly an important factor in keeping all categories of criminal offenses down."
The township, however, has seen five occurrences of anti-Semitic graffiti in the 18 months from March 2003 through last month.
On Thursday, the mayor said, "I don’t know that there is any logical explanation for these types of crimes. It may be the same people who have committed these crimes in the past, but the police are working hard to find the perpretrators."
East Windsor also experienced an alleged murder in 2003. Maritza Soto of East Windsor was charged earlier this year with the June 2003 murder of her 21-month-old son, Daniel, in their Windsor Regency apartment. No murders were reported in 2002.
East Windsor witnessed an increase in rape as well, according to the UCR. Two more were reported in 2003 than in 2002.
Mayor Mironov said this increase is related to two different circumstances that were interfamilial, meaning they happened inside the home and both attackers were related to the victims.
The East Windsor Police Department added another female officer in 2003. The township now has two female officers and 46 male officers.
The mayor said that although the addition of another police officer is effective, all of the officers contribute equally to the safety of township residents.
She said the Police Department will continue to work hard to keep the township safe and the crime rates down.
"We have an ongoing program of education and training for our officers," she said. "The department is always seeking ways to improve their training for crime prevention and detection."