By:Jeff Lipton
Crime dropped 44 percent during the six months from Jan. 1 to June 30, police statistics providing sharp contrast to the same period in 2003 in the categories of murder, rape, robbery, residential burglary, commercial burglary, felonious assault and auto theft. The total number of serious crimes dropped from 149 to 84.
Police administrators attribute the steep reductions to the strategic redeployment of patrols to combat such felonies as burglary and auto theft. "Our officers continue to do a good job," said Fourth Precinct Deputy Inspector Thomas Carroll. "They are out there, and we couldn't be happier with the way they are performing right now. The morale and the work ethic in this precinct is very good, and it's a factor."
Precinct commanders said they have studied crime patterns and have strategically placed officers in those neighborhoods where crimes are occurring most, making serious inroads in the number of break-ins and stolen cars. About a year ago, Lawrence was experiencing a major problem with home burglaries. Officers were redeployed and the burglaries stopped, precinct officials said. And, Carroll explained, "The arrest of a couple of pattern burglars has had an impact."
Overall in the Five Towns, the number of residential break-ins fell from 38 to 24, a 37 percent drop, according to Fourth Precinct statistics. Commercial burglaries showed an even more pronounced drop, declining 57 percent for the same six-month span. Auto theft dived 55 percent, from 60 incidents to 27, and felonious assault dipped 40 percent, from 15 reported incidents to nine.
The number of robberies stayed the same, at 14, as did that of rape - 1. There were no murders in either six-month period.
The Fourth Precinct recently added six officers, bringing the total manpower to 149 and helping to replace some of the officers lost through attrition in years past. Three officers are on extended military leave in Iraq.
Carroll said the steep reduction in crime has not come as a surprise. "It's basically a case of making sure the officers on patrol have as much information as possible, making traffic stops whenever necessary and being very visible to both the good and the bad guys," he said. "We want to let them know we are out there reducing crime and making sure they are aware we're out there.
"It's been a very effective year, and we hope to keep it up," Carroll said. "It's very gratifying to see the low numbers of major crimes in the Five Towns."
He said that police have cut into the number of car thefts by increasing patrols at train stations and parking lots in commercial areas. Carroll added that the community has been extremely cooperative and responsive when it comes to reporting crimes or any suspicious activity. "The best type of burglary prevention is a nosy neighbor who will dial 911," the deputy inspector said.
Community leaders said they could not be more pleased with the job the Fourth Precinct officers and command are doing. Simon Felder, Lawrence's deputy mayor and police commissioner, continues to speak highly of the job the police are doing to reduce crime. "We have a very close relationship with the Fourth Precinct and Inspector Richard McGuire," Felder said. "I speak with Inspector McGuire all the time, and he has told me his door is always open for me. The most important thing that I have requested is a police presence in our streets at night, with drive-by patrols.
"They have been cut back in personnel, so you might think there is less attention to the community," Felder said. "But police are making an extra effort to keep patrols out there, including to catch traffic violators. I am happy to say they are keeping a close eye on our community."
Sy Glass, president of the Woodmere Merchants Association, said, "I'm glad to hear that crime is going down. I think the police are doing a marvelous job. They are doing a fantastic job - the whole staff, including Inspector McGuire and Lieutenant [Larry] Feffer."
