Crime & Safety

Ocean County Sees 5.5 Percent Drop in Crime in 2012

State report shows 4 percent drop statewide, comparing 2012 to 2011

The overall crime rate in Ocean County dropped 5.5 percent from 2011 to 2012, according to a state report.

The state Department of Law & Public Safety just issued its 2012 Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which shows that the overall crime rate and violent crime in the state dropped four percent compared to 2011.

So the decrease in Ocean County is 1.5 greater than the statewide increase, according to the report released on Friday.

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In Ocean County, there were 15,842 crimes reported between Jan. and Dec. 2011, compared to 14,970 reported between Jan. and Dec. 2012, with a decrease of 5.5 percent.

When looking at the time period from Dec. 2011 to Dec. 2012, the number of reported crimes decreased more. There were 1,168 crimes during that time period for 2011, compared to 932 during that same time period in 2012, according to the report. That's a decrease of 20.2 percent. 

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Statewide, robberies decreased six percent from 12,128 to 11,382, and aggravated assaults decreased four percent from 13,489 to 12,938.  

"While overall the news is positive, the (statewide) murder rate edged up slightly, from 375 reported incidents to 387, and rape increased from 917 to 969," says a prepared statement from Law and Public Safety.

“While the latest crime data shows a decrease in the overall crime rate in New Jersey, there is still considerable room for improvement.” said Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman. 

“Reducing the number of shootings and murders in our urban areas continues to be a priority for the Attorney General’s Office and the New Jersey State Police. The State Police will continue to support our cities in reducing senseless shootings and murders.”  

The annual UCR, prepared by the State Police Uniform Crime Reporting Unit, measures offenses committed during the period spanning from January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2012.  

The report contains data on the rate of reported Index Crimes – offenses which fall into seven crime categories, including the four violent index crimes of murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, and three nonviolent index crimes of burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.  

The UCR also contains separate statistical reports on bias crimes, carjacking and domestic violence.

To view the data, click here


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