The New Jersey State Police’s end-of-the-year Uniform Crime Report spelled both good and bad news in Medford Township.
According to the report for 2013, crime in Medford dropped approximately 4 percent from 2012, with 310 total crimes last year compared to 323 the previous year.
Despite the good overall numbers, there was some concern as the township saw a 10.2 percent increase in burglaries and three robberies in 2013.
Police Chief Richard Meder said both numbers are higher than normal. He cited a few factors as the cause of the increase.
“That’s a combination of a couple different things,” Meder said. “You can attribute some of it to the high price of gold. A lot is also attributed to the drug epidemic.”
Meder said the high price of gold is causing more criminals to break into residences and other private property. They steal jewelry and other valuables to sell at secondhand shops and come away with some quick cash.
Meder also said an increase in drug activity throughout South Jersey has consequently bumped up burglary numbers.
In Medford, there were two armed robberies and one strong-armed robbery in 2013. The township’s increase in robberies from one in 2012 to three last year is a trend throughout many Burlington County communities. Bank robberies in particular have been on the rise countywide, according to Meder.
“There’s a significant amount of bank robberies throughout the county,” he said.
The Medford Police offer tips throughout the year to residents about securing belongings and preventing their homes from being robbed.
“Lock your cars doors, don’t leave valuables where you can see them,” Meder said. “Let people know that you’re not going to be home. Let us know that you’re not going to be home so that we can keep a look out for you.”
Another factor leading to a spike in burglaries is the information residents put out on the Internet and through social media. Meder said criminals are frequently online searching for an opportunity to strike when residents are most vulnerable.
“You have to minimize the information you’re putting out there,” he said.
Meder also encourages residents to call the police department when something seems out of the ordinary. He said it is common for residents to not call the police department about something small when a major event could be taking place.
“One of the things that we try and get out of people is when you see something out of the ordinary, call us and tell us,” he said.
Overall, Meder said he uses the Uniform Crime Report mainly as a way to track crime in the township from year-to-year.
“When you speak about the UCR, we look at them for comparison issues,” he said. “It’s a good way to compare year-to-year.”
Since 2011, when the township had an increase in crime, crime has dropped each year. The drop in crime came while the police department went through a significant restructuring and downsizing effort alongside other township departments.
Meder attributes the police’s success to its increased visibility and communication with residents.
“We have a very good relationship with our community in sharing information,” he said. “We’re trying to be visible, we’re trying to engage the community.”
With an increased presence on its website, Facebook and Nixle, Meder hopes the community will continue to work hand-in-hand with the police department in continuing to prevent crime in Medford.
