Crime in Medford is down 17 percent from January to June, with 30 fewer offenses than the same time period last year, according to the state’s Uniform Crime Reporting statistics.
The most common offense reported in 2012 was theft, with 113 incidents last year and 95 this year.
According to Police Chief Richard Meder, UCR only tracks very specific crimes. However, the decline in crimes is positive for the township.
“I think it’s a combination of things. One thing I ask of my officers is to be more visible, to communicate with residents, and that helps to bring [crime] down,” Meder said.
Aggravated assault is down 33 percent from last year, with six reported crimes in 2012 and four this year. Burglaries didn’t decline as much. Twenty four crimes were reported this year compared to 26 in 2012.
Meder stays up to date on the UCR, checking it each month.
“As the chief, I want to see crime coming down. I’m very happy with that,” he said. “UCR is one of the few statistical documents that helps us register these things.”
The county’s initiatives play a role in the decline as well.
According to Joel Bewley, spokesman for the Burlington County Prosecutors Office, the county invested $4.8 million in New World Systems — a software, hardware, training and support company for local government and public safety agencies — using a federal grant in 1996.
Departments in the county have the option of using the system, and a majority of them do, he said. When residents dial 911, the system locates where the call is coming from. The information from the call is entered into the system by the dispatcher and the proper authorities are sent to the scene. The program allows direct communication with an officer and mobile data terminal located in squad cars, and departments can look back and analyze incidents entered in the system, Bewley said.
“We view it as a very effective program,” he said.
According to Meder, the information used from New World Systems assists in identifying crime patterns in Medford that may be similar in other towns.
“It makes information in other towns a little more readily available. For instance, we can talk to Evesham if something pops up, like a rash of burglaries, and talk to them about how to stop it,” Meder said.
In addition to New World Systems, the department utilizes Facebook to provide information to residents.
“One of the things we have done is maintain a good relationship with homeowners’ alliances throughout the township,” Meder said, noting the Facebook page and email alerts to the alliances notify them of crime patterns. “If we see something that’s affecting the township, we to try make people aware of what’s going on so they can be more vigilant.”
Meder suggests simple solutions to preventing crime, including locking doors at night or when residents have left the property.
“Medford is a safe place, but people need to be cognizant of their homes. Something as simple as locking your doors can deter [criminals],” Meder said. “We want to have a better relationship with the public to communicate with them. They’re our eyes and ears.”
There are 28 officers on Medford Township’s police force. According to Meder, at the height of employment, there were as many as 49.
Meder recently applied for a grant that would allow the township to hire more officers.
“The council has allowed us to apply for the grant. Hopefully it will work out,” Meder said.
Meder wants to remind residents there are multiple ways to report crime in Medford, including the citizen tip hotline, the Facebook page, the website and a generic email to which “they can send in anything.”
To report crimes in the area, call the confidential tip line at (609) 714–0302, contact the police at (609) 654–7511, or through email at info@medfordpolice.org.
