Crime Statistics—

Thefts Dropped Sharply, Burglaries Rose Slightly In 2011

By Andrew Gorosko

The Newtown Police Department has released local crime statistics for 2011, providing a compilation of the crimes reported to police during that year, indicating that compared to 2010, the number of thefts, or larcenies, dropped sharply, but the number of burglaries rose slightly.

According to the statistics, police received reports of 176 larcenies occurring during 2011, compared to the 223 larcenies reported in 2010, reflecting a 21 percent decrease in that type of crime.

However, the number of burglaries reported in 2011 was 54, compared to 52 burglaries in 2010, representing an almost four percent increase in that category.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe pointed out that the incidence of such crimes is cyclical with the number of those crimes rising and falling from year to year.

“We look for [crime] trends and areas where we can improve service to the community,” he said.

In the crime statistics, which range back to 2001, the year that had the highest number of larcenies was 2003, when 237 such crimes were reported. The lowest number of larcenies during that 11-year period came in 2001 when police received reports of 141 larcenies.

Among burglaries, the highest number during the 11-year period came in 2002, when 60 burglaries were reported. The lowest number of burglaries during that time span was in 2007, when 34 such cases were reported.

Chief Kehoe said that burglaries and larcenies may be linked, depending upon the specific circumstances of a crime. Larceny is often a motive for a burglary.

No murders were reported in 2011. Previous murders came in the years 2010, 2005, and 1999.

Police received reports of five rapes in 2011, compared to two such cases in 2010. The five rapes listed in 2011 was the highest incidence of that crime in a single year during the 11-year statistical period.

In 2011, police received reports of three robberies, the same number as was reported in 2010.

There were five cases of aggravated assault, or serious assault, reported to police in 2011, compared to seven such cases in 2010.

Police learned of six motor vehicle thefts in 2011, compared to five such cases in the preceding year. The highest incidence of that crime during the 11-year statistical period came in 2001, when 13 vehicle thefts were reported.

Two cases of arson were reported to police in 2011, compared to one such case in each of the three preceding years.

According to the statistics, the police solved 24 of the 176 larcenies which were reported in 2011. Also, the police solved five of the 54 burglaries reported in that year.

Also, in the crimes reported to police in 2011, police solved one of the five rapes, solved all three reported robberies, solved all five reported aggravated assaults, solved two of the six vehicle thefts, and did not solve either of the two arsons.

The total number of burglar alarms which police responded to in 2011 was 1,525, compared to 1,530 such alarms in 2010. Of the 1,525 alarms, three alarms signaled actual burglaries occurring.

The number of such alarms received has continued to decrease since 2007, when 1,883 alarms were received.

Motor Vehicles

Increased motor vehicle violation enforcement by police resulted in a huge hike in the number of written warnings issued to motorists.

In 2011, police handed out 6,023 written warnings to motorists, reflecting an almost 80 percent increase in the issuance of written warnings compared to 2010, when 3,355 written warnings were given out.

By way of comparison, police issued 910 written warnings in 1999.

The statistics do not list verbal warnings for motor vehicle violations.

Besides the patrol division, the police department has a traffic enforcement unit that specializes in enforcing motor vehicle violations.

In 2011, motorists received 2,735 motor vehicle summonses from police, which was 88 more summonses, or 3 percent more, than the 2,647 summonses which motorists received in 2010. By way of comparison, police issued 1,600 summonses in 1999.

The statistics indicate that police made 71 arrests on charges of driving under the influence in 2011, compared to 70 such arrests in 2010.

During the period from 1999 to 2011, police made the highest number of DUI arrests in 2006, when 102 motorists were charged with that offense. The lowest number of DUI arrests came in 2004, when police issued that violation to 58 drivers.

The town police department’s statistics do not include the various arrests and warnings made by state police in Newtown. State police patrols include Interstate 84, Garner Correctional Institution, and state-owned sections of Fairfield Hills.