By Vanessa Holt, Managing Editor
The New Jersey State Police released the Uniform Crime Report last week, detailing the statistics of violent and non-violent crimes reporter in municipalities throughout the state.
The largest drops in the Northern Burlington County area were mainly in its more rural towns: Mansfield, New Hanover, North Hanover and Springfield each saw a decline in reported crimes, particularly in nonviolent crimes, which are defined burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. Violent crimes are defined in the report as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
In Bordentown City, overall incidents increased from 42 to 63 incidents, with a drop from 4 to 3 in violent crime. The overall crime rate per 1,000 is 15.9, up from 10.5. The estimated population is 3,953.
The overall number of crimes reported in Bordentown Township remained about the same, increasing by one incident to 190. Violent crimes increased from 18 to 22, while non-violent crimes decreased slightly. The crime rate per 1,000 dropped from 18.3 to 18.1. The population for 2007 was estimated at 10,469.
Chesterfield’s statistics remained almost the same, increasing by one incident to 38 (one non-violent crime). One violent crime, rape, was reported in 2007. The township’s population is 6,451. The overall crime rate per 1,000 incidents is 5.9, down 0.1 from 2006.
The only crime reported in Fieldsboro in 2007 was an incident of domestic violence. The previous year, a total of seven crimes had been reported, two of them violent. The borough has a population of 577 and does not have its own police force.
Overall crime was up slightly in Florence, increasing from 126 to 171 incidents in 2007, including an increase from 10 to 17 violent crimes. The crime rate per 1,000 people is 14.7, up from 11. Florence has a population of 11,637.
Mansfield saw a drop in its crime index, from 146 to 129 incidents. Violent crime decreased from five to three incidents. Its crime rate per 1,000 is 16, down from 18.4. The population is estimated at 8,047.
In New Hanover, overall crime was down from 21 to 7 incidents. No violent crimes were reported in 2007. The crime rate per 1,000 in the township is 0.7, down from 2.2, and the population is 9,479.
In North Hanover overall crime fell to 68 incidents from 82 in 2006. Violent crime fell from five to one incident. The crime rate per 1,000 fell from 10.8 to 9 incidents in the township of 7,577.
In Springfield, the crime index fell from 76 to 35, bringing the overall crime rate per 1,000 down to 9.8, a steep fall from 21.8. Violent crime was down one (it fell from four to three incidents) but non-violent crime saw a dramatic drop from 72 to 32. The township’s population is 3,570.

