Statistics Show A Slight Increase In Crime Locally

By Andrew Gorosko

An analysis of crime statistics indicates an increase in the number of reported crimes in Newtown in 1998 compared to 1997.

There were 296 major crimes reported in Newtown in 1998, compared to 271 reported in 1997, according to the FBI.

Reported cases of forcible rape, robbery, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson increased. Cases of aggravated assault and burglary decreased. No murders were reported in either 1997 or 1998. The town’s first murder in six years came last July when Jason Gowdy, 15, of Sandy Hook was gunned down while walking with friends on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook.

According to the FBI crime statistics there were three reported forcible rapes in 1998 compared to two rapes in 1997. The year 1998 saw three robberies compared to two robberies the previous year. Police list six aggravated assaults occurring in 1998 compared to nine such incidents the year before. Police reported 72 burglaries in 1998, compared to 81 burglaries in 1997. Larcenies increased from 161 in 1997 to 187 in 1998. The number of motor vehicle thefts increased from 15 in 1997 to 22 in 1998. In 1998, three arsons were reported compared to one in 1997. For statistical purposes, the FBI lists the town’s population as 22,608.

Police Captain Michael Kehoe said the occurrence of crimes is cyclical. “I looked at those crime statistics, and I didn’t think it was significant at all,” he said.

 In a town like Newtown where there is relatively little serious crime, a small increase in the number of crimes in a category can appear to be more statistically significant than it actually is, he said. The number of crimes occurring in each category vacillates from year to year, he said.

These are comparative crime figures for some surrounding towns for 1998 provided by the FBI. These towns have at least populations of at least 10,000 and also have organized police departments.

Bethel: population 17,840 – 170 offenses.

Bridgeport: population 138,698 – 9,342 offenses.

Brookfield: population 14,541 – 184 offenses.

Danbury: population 65,774 – 2,350 offenses.

Monroe: population 18,067 – 201 offenses.

The FBI statistics indicate that crime in Bridgeport and New Haven decreased between 1997 and 1998, but rose slightly in suburban towns.

The FBI’s uniform crime reporting program is a nationwide, cooperative statistic l effort of approximately 17,000 city, county and state law enforcement agencies which report to the FBI crimes that have been brought to their attention.