Report: Burglaries in Cinnaminson Up, Other Crime Down
Cinnaminson's public safety director said the department monitors themselves and reacts to trends.
The state’s uniform crime report is out—an analysis of crime data from police agencies throughout New Jersey.
But whatever the numbers are for the township, Cinnaminson’s Public Safety Director Michael P. King doesn’t give it much credence.
“We’re not waiting for the uniform crime report to come out,” King said. “We react as things are fresh. We monitor crime trends and react to them.”
After all, the numbers are a bit old.
The report comes out in mid-December, but the numbers are for the full previous year. The Dec. 14, 2012 report is for 2011.
But they still mean the same thing. And for Cinnaminson, nothing much stands out aside from the number of burglaries.
In 2010, the number of burglaries reported in Cinnaminson is 53. In 2011, the number rose to 87. In 2009, there were 67.
“There have been burglaries in certain areas of town,” King said. “We’re monitoring whenever we have calls.”
King—who started with Cinnaminson in the summer of 2011, which means he was at the helm of the department for about six months of the crime report year—said burglaries rise in times of economic need.
“Due to the economy, that triggers thefts or burglaries,” he said. “We’re always concerned about it. We make sure we have a high visibility as well other as other proactive approaches to make sure the residential areas of the town are well-policed.”
Burglaries were up in surrounding towns, so Cinnaminson is not alone. From 2010 to 2011, burglaries went from 67 to 74 in Moorestown, from 27 to 35 in Palmyra and from 39 to 66 in Delran.
In most other areas, crime data showed decreases. Violent crimes were down from one year to the next, 25 to 16; robbery was down from 8 to 5; and aggravated assault from 13 to 6.
“If you look at the decreases,” King said, “it the shows the type of policing that we’re doing. The officers are out there doing their jobs.”
To see the full report, click here.
John
11:38 am on Saturday, January 12, 2013
What is the statics for the crime rate? This part of the article is very vague. How do you run a police dept with only 19 men and expect the public to feel safe and adequately protected? But of course crime is down because the dept is purely reactive. Although your headline sure sounds good. Nice work twp committee.
Alison
4:15 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
@John - I don't follow your logic. You stated: "But of course crime is down because the dept is purely reactive." I would think that crime would go up if the department is "purely reactive" because there would be less presence on the street due to police only responding to calls and not patrolling. People are out of work due to the downturn of the economy. It's my belief that even with a fully staffed police force, we would see an increase in burglaries due to the poor economy. Right or wrong, people are doing desperate things in order to get by no matter how many police officers we have.
Jenn
8:02 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Police arent going to protect you or your family during a burglary. They will only be there after the fact.
This is why the 2nd amendment and the right to defend yourself is so important, folks.
JustALocalGuy
10:35 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
Bingo. We're all responsible for our own safety.
lesanda
8:02 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Forget the numbers for burglaries. Look at the percentages. Cinnaminson 64.15% increase, Moorestown 9% increase, Palmyra 29.6% increase,Delran 69.2%.I would like to see the report on the drug activity in Cinnaminson. Especially in the schools and compare it to the report published in the New York Times October 8th 2000.That would be interesting.
JustALocalGuy
8:02 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
"Only" 19 men? Why would we need more? What more would you have the police do? It's unrealistic to expect 100% protection by any police force. Furthermore, you don't actually want that. You may think you do, but the consequences of the level of police state you would require are terrible.
Imagine being hassled for every little thing, every day. Bored police are the enemy of the population; as they will always be pressured to "stay busy" by their supervisors. This means finding trivial matters about which to hound the peaceful people of the town.
- Sorry sir, your grass is 2" too long. I'll have to write you a ticket for that.
- Ma'am, I saw a piece of paper fly out your car window. That will be a $200 fine for littering.
- Excuse me sir, your dog isn't on a leash. That will be a $100 fine.
- Miss, I noticed you roll slowly through that stop sign without a complete stop at, 2 AM. That will be $100 and 2 points.
Over-policing makes our lives worse and costs us lots of money while doing it. It is the inevitable consequence of an overgrown police force, and nobody wants that.
FbS
6:02 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
I think they are doing a fine job for the size of the department and the size of the township. We feel very safe here..
Areukiddingme
10:25 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Burglaries also include cars which are often left unlocked and rummaged through, the total number is very deceiving..........
Fran Evans Sr
10:25 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
That is why i prefer German Shepherds! On patrol 24/7
Skitch
8:48 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
I'm with you Frank Evans Sr. Big dogs rule! They hurt too when they bite. And trust me they will bite if you threaten their families or try to enter their home without permission. I know the second someone is around or near my house outside. The person doesn't even have to be on my property but i know their there. Even in the dead of night. I have built in dog alarms. I don't need any so called free ADT system.
Skitch
8:48 am on Saturday, January 19, 2013
Sorry, got the name wrong. Fran Evans Sr.
lesanda
1:31 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
The national average ratio for policemen to population is 1 and a 1/2 per 1,000. 19 member police force should support a population of 12,666. What is the population of Cinnaminson?
Michael Makinson
10:35 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
No community, no matter how large or small can rely solely on it's police department for the prevention of crime. The American policing system is structured and governed by constitutional mandate to be reactionary. The 4th, 5th and 14th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution restrict law enforcement from being overly proactive to the detriment of personal freedoms, In order to be effective the crime prevention efforts of a police department must include a well organized and active element of community engagement, awareness and participation. Cinnaminson would do well to implement an organized Neighborhood Watch program. In my past professional experience as a crime prevention officer on a municipal police department with similar geographic, demographic and staffing characteristics as Cinnaminson showed a measurable reduction in burglaries, robberies, vandalism and quality of life related incidents within a relatively short time period after the implementation of a community wide crime prevention program. The monetary investment was minimal but the return on investment was major in terms of crime reduction. - (Graduate of the National Crime Prevention Institute, University of Louisville).
FbS
8:51 am on Sunday, January 13, 2013
15,569. So, we are not far off center.
Rick
4:55 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Frank if you think 19 officers for a town of almost 16,000 people is enough than you are truly delusional. We should have at least double what we have 40 officers would be the ideal number for a town of our size. We have very limited police protection in this town
Bull Pitt
12:32 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013
"Currently on average the ratio of police to population in the US comes to about 2.3 officers per thousand residents; larger cities have higher ratios. That force ratio has remained steady for nearly three decades at around 2.21-2.34 police officers per 1000 civilian population.". From "Project America". Google it. Do your own investigating. Cinnaminson should have at least 30 Officers like they did for the last 3 decades. And yes, crime will go down, simply because the Police are only reacting to calls, like "Justalocalguy" said, no Police to enforce anything else, whether you like that or not?
Keven
2:31 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Do the readers realize we live less than ten miles from the poorest, most violent city in the country. Spillover, just go to the Shop-Rite on a Sat. or Sun. panhandlers abound. The Wawa, hold your purse close.
Patty Mansfield
7:56 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Beans, beans they're good for your glutes, the more you eat the more you toots!
AnoninCinna
7:56 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
I think the Neighborhood Watch idea is a great one! I, for one, would feel safer knowing that there are people around me looking out for their neighbors.
I think the riverline, as well as the motels attract a lot of crime. The township should try to close down the existing motels, nothing good is going on there.