file photo Boyd Loving
State statistics show crime in Ridgewood is declining
SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Crime in Ridgewood plummeted nearly 30 percent in the first half of this year, mirroring a positive trend throughout the state.
According to data released last month by the state Department of Law and Public Safety reflecting the time period of January to June, non-violent crimes in Ridgewood fell from 97 incidents to 68 when compared with the same time last year, a 29.9 percent decrease.
Meanwhile, the whole state saw a 12.6 percent drop in total crime, which includes homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.
Ridgewood saw the most improvement in curbing simple assaults, with a 56.9 percent decrease, translating to 58 incidents in the first half of last year to 25 incidents in the first half of 2014.
The police department also saw significant improvements in burglaries, with a decrease from 22 to 12 incidents; and in larceny, where there was a decrease from 75 to 56 incidents.
“We’ve been working hard in a number of different areas of traffic safety and crime prevention,” said Police Chief John Ward.
Ward said because Ridgewood is a “relatively safe community” the drop in its crime numbers does not reflect any one effort, but speaks more to the department’s ongoing commitment to protecting the entire community.
– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/crime-and-courts/state-statistics-show-dip-in-crime-numbers-1.1091667#sthash.B1kC2PrV.dpuf
