Local crime rate plunges

By Eileen Oldfield Staff Writer
   MANVILLE — Crime in Manville dropped nearly 38 percent in 2007, according to the most recent State Police Uniform Crime Report.
   The UCR tallies violent and non-violent crimes reported by local police departments, and this year’s report notes total incidents in the borough dropped from 218 in 2006 to 158 in 2007.
   ”We would like to attribute it (the reduction in crime) to the aggressiveness of our patrols,” Police Chief Mark Peltack said. “They maintain a good presence … They’re keeping up with quality of life issues.”
   Chief Peltack said that a grant from the state Division of Highway Traffic and Safety helped the department place additional patrols around the town during certain times.
   Just two violent crimes were reported in the borough in 2007, compared to the 11 reported in 2006. The 2006 crimes included nine reported cases of aggravated assault and two robberies.
   The 2007 report showed a single rape and a single robbery reported.
   Instances of non-violent crimes, including burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, domestic violence, and bias crimes were down as well, with 156 non-violent crimes reported. That’s down from 207 in 2006.
   Non-violent crimes dropped in five of the categories, though 31 more domestic violence incidents were reported in 2007, raising the number from 94 in 2006 to 125 in 2007.
   ”I don’t know what to attribute those (the domestic violence statistics) to,” Chief Peltack said. “It may possibly be that people are becoming more aware and more educated in domestic violence and are reporting the incidents as they occur.”
   Chief Peltack said the crime statistics can vary from year to year, with little pattern to how the incidents occur or get reported.