Towns Saw Slight Increase in Crime from 2007 to 2008

Crime rose slightly in Scotch Plains and Fanwood last year, according to the 2008 Uniform Crime Report, which was recently released by the state attorney general’s office.

The report says that Fanwood had an increase of 27 crimes last year, with a total of 88. That's up from 61 in 2007. In Scotch Plains, the number rose to 279, up from 264 the year before.

The good news in Scotch Plains is that the number of violent crimes declined. The township had a total of 28 violent crimes in 2007. That number dropped to 16 in 2008. The increase in overall crime was impacted by a rise in nonviolent crimes, which were up by 27, from 236 in 2007 to 263 in 2008.

Fanwood saw its violent crime rate stay steady at five. There was a slight increase in non-violent crimes, from 64 in 2007 to 83 in 2008. The overall crime rate in the borough increased to 12.3 per 1000 residents, up from 9.6 per 1000 people.

Scotch Plains’ crime rate also increased, to 12.1 crimes per 1000 people, up from 11.4 per 1000 the year before.

Thankfully, the murder rate for both towns stayed at the best number: zero.

Scotch Plains posted drops in all violent crime categories. Only one reported rape occurred in the township last year, compared to three in 2007. Reported robberies went down to four, from six the year before. Aggravated assault saw the biggest decrease: from 19 in 2007 to 11 in 2008.

Fanwood didn’t have any reported rapes last year, compared to one in 2007. The borough did see its robbery reports double, though, from two in 2007 to four in 2008. Aggravated assault was cut in half, from two in 2007 to one in 2008.

Burglaries in the borough also decreased from 11 to seven; motor vehicle theft increased from two to six. There were no arsons. Larceny increased to 70, from 51. Domestic violence reports decreased to 10, from 30 reports the year before.

Scotch Plains also had a decrease in burglaries, from 43 in 2007 to 33 in 2008. Domestic Violence also dipped to 85, from 98. Motor vehicle thefts rose slightly, from seven to nine. Larceny increased to 221 from 186. Arson stayed the same at two.

Compared to the rest of Union County, Scotch Plains’ crime rate ranks lower than other comparable suburban communities. Fanwood’s rate is comparable with other towns of its size. The report reveals that most of the crime in the county was focused in the major urban areas, with Elizabeth, Plainfield and Union Township posting the largest rates. There were 16,800 crimes countywide in 2008, up from 15,622 in 2007.

Overall Crime Rates for Each Town in Union County in 2008

Berkeley Heights - 91

Clark - 159

Cranford - 329

Elizabeth - 6,931

Fanwood - 88

Garwood - 44

Hillside - 772

Kenilworth - 176

Linden - 1,531

Mountainside - 58

New Providence  - 109

Plainfield - 2,001

Rahway - 744

Roselle - 641

Roselle Park  - 234

Scotch Plains - 279

Summit - 331

Union Township - 1,681

Westfield - 293

Winfield - 27