Police: Crime Down in West Orange Overall—Robberies, Thefts Up

Crime has dropped 7.5 percent overall through the first quarter of 2013 throughout West Orange compared to last year, officials said Wednesday — however, thefts and robberies have increased, including seven at gunpoint.

According to reports from the West Orange police department, between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2013, crime dropped to 199 incidents compared to the same months in 2012 when 215 incidents were recorded. 

The amount of assaults, burglaries and motor vehicle theft incidents combined has dropped more than 30 percent compared to the same time last year. 

Despite the drop in overall incidents, there were 11 more thefts — 107 total — and seven more robberies. Of the 10 robberies reports, seven were with a firearm, one with a knife and two were strong-armed robberies.

"We have no explanation for the robberies," Capt. John Buoye of the West Orange Detective Bureau said. “However robberies are usually a crime of opportunity, though."

According to reports obtained by West Orange Patch, during the last 10 years crime is down about 50 percent throughout town overall.

The following is a detailed report comparing offenses between this year and last year for the first quarter from the West Orange police department:

Jan.-March 2012

Jan.-March 2013

Robbery - Total

3

10

Firearm

2

7

Knife Cutting Instrument

0

1

Other Dangerous Weapon

0

0

Strong Arm (Hands, Fists, Feet, etc.)

1

2

Assault - Total 

50

27

Gun

0

0

Knife or Cutting Instrument

7

0

Other Dangerous Weapon

4

4

Strong Arm (Hands, Fists, Feet, etc.)

0

0

Simple Assaults

39

23

Burglary - Total

46

39

Forcible Entry

29

19

Unlawful Entry - no force

11

13

Attempted Forcible Entry

6

7

Theft/Larceny - Total

96

107

Motor Vehicle Theft - Total

20

15

Autos

19

15

Trucks and Buses

0

0

Other Vehicles

1

0

ARSON - Total

0

1

GRAND TOTAL

215

199

There were no reported homicide or rape incidents.