Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST
Is There Crime Or Not?
By Tammy Duffy
Last week Hamilton Township, NJ (Mercer County) released the following annoucement see link: ( http://www.hamiltonnj.com/controls/NewsFeed.aspx?FeedID=1177) "Crime is the lowest it has been since 1977."
The FBI collects the data in the USA and makes it public to citizens. (http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/ucr-publications#Crime) So, one can go to the site and see how Hamilton, NJ (Mercer County) or any town is doing at any time. Attached is a chart (you can go to the site and verify this data) of data back to 2005. In 2004, and years prior to that, the data was collected differently so you cannot compare apples to apples. (however one can see the data back to 1995 on the site)
Upon review of the data one can clearly see that there is not a decrease in crime as stated in the release by the town. Actually a rapid increase in violent crime, property crime,motor vehicle theft and larceny in Hamilton. There was also an arson case as well in 2013.
This latest report from the leadership of Hamilton gives the town a false sense of security and an invitation to thieves and criminals that what they are doing is okay with the town. Over the past two weeks during the hours of 9pm and later I have had random people coming to my door (sometimes there is a car in in site, many times not) asking for directions to places. One guy last week at 9pm came to my door, pounding on it non stop. When I got to the door (never opened it but peered through my wreath on the door, he asked for directions to the GW Bridge. I said," Never heard of it." NEVER open your door. Do not give them directions. Do not open the door. Have cameras installed so that you can see who is at the door so you do not have to go to the door if there is a stranger there. If I did not invite you and you randomly show up, you are not coming for a visit.
The only person that can really protect your home and yourself is...yourself. You have to think like a criminal. What would they do? There are zero cameras installed anywhere in the township to analyze crime (except for a few at Veteran's Park in the children's playground and those installed by businesses on their own). This is an issue for the town.
There are many ways criminals can access homes inside gated and guarded communities or your home. They do not mind climbing over short walls or crawling underneath through drainages to access your home. Trusting and loving neighbors will save your home and keep you safe. Criminals commit crimes where they feel undetected, unobserved and at no or low risk for being reported to law enforcement.
One of the many things during the first 120 days of the new administration with Mayor Eric Jackson (Trenton, NJ Mayor), he has been focused on building strong relationships. One of the things they have done is to create relationships with the editors if the local newspapers to hopefully create fair, responsible and accurate reporting. Suburbia seems to be protected by the press and cities get negative press more quickly in the area. A recent stabbing at a Subway sandwich shop during lunch hour in Hamilton, NJ, Mercer County ended up on page twelve of the newspaper, a town with a rise in violent crime. If this same crime happened in Trenton, it would have been front page news. The news has to be reported, crime happens, but it does not have to be front page news every day for the inner city. The positive things in the community need to be highlighted more often. This kind of information can then be shared with the business community to help them understand the positive strides the city is making.
In the first 100 days of Trenton, NJ. Mayor Jackson’s administration, violent crimes and homicides have decreased by 75% from the prior year. The overall crime rate has been decreased by 25% from the prior year as well. They attribute this to leadership, engaging the community, clergy, non profits, academia to be a part of the process to work through crime. They also have put more boots on the ground. “They are going to get you. If someone thinks and wants to commit a crime. The town is actively engaged. They will be prosecuted swiftly,” says Mayor Jackson. They are leveraging their relationships with the county sheriff’s office, the governor’s office, Attorney General Hoffman and others, to turn things around. People confidently feel safe and comfortable. They recently received a $1.5 Million grant to get 24 new police officers in Trenton. The strong relationship they are building with the governor and others is helping them build a partnership for the city.
Home security cameras can capture great leads for an investigation and home alarm systems might deter the crooks for good, keeping your castle unscathed. Creating your own personal Fort Knox will ensure you and your families are kept safe.
Top reminders for people who live in gated communities: Kathy Perkins, who is a Metropolitian crime prevention specialist,works to point out a home's vulnerabilities. Here are some of her thoughts below
- 1. Un-manned gated entrances limit some vehicle traffic, but not all. It is difficult to prevent all "follow-ins" and it is impossible to ensure that entrance codes are not given out in a way that creates risk. Too many individuals/service providers have access codes. Pedestrian traffic is not deterred by an entrance gate as walking in when the gate is opened is very easy. Also, pedestrian access gates, if present, need to be secured at all times.
- 2. A manned entrance gate allows for more control as to the vehicles entering due to the security person making a visual and verbal contact with those entering. Maintaining a log of those entering by name and vehicle license info is helpful but all companies have a process for personnel assigned entrance gates. Know what process is in place for your community if applicable. Some communities have dated passes or passes that indicate the reason the service provider is inside and what address they are there for.
- 3. Manned entrance gate personnel only have awareness of what takes place at the entrance gate. They are not neighborhood eyes and ears. And, distractions can occur and busy times can get hectic. Do your part to help make their job easier when expecting guests.
- 4. All neighborhoods have multiple entry points. Undesirable people will hop a wall or fence, find pathways or other weak points with the neighborhood perimeter with which to take advantage of. Any entrance gate, manned or not, is not a deterrent to a determined individual – they are simple an obstacle to overcome.
- 5. Residents may develop a false sense of security if they assume entrance gates will keep out undesirables. Residents typically take fewer safety or home security precautions because they feel "protected" by the gate.
- 6. Residents are often inclined to pay less attention to activity in the neighborhood because they feel that if someone is inside the neighborhood they must have been let it or are supposed to be there. Residents are usually less observant and less inclined to pay attention to people and vehicles when they have a false sense of security.
- 7. Criminals commit crimes where they feel undetected, unobserved and at no or low risk for being reported to law enforcement. An entrance gate makes no difference to most criminals and does not serve as a deterrent as much as residents might think.
- 8. Criminals are deterred by effective home security practices, observant neighbors, and the fear of being arrested. Effective home and neighborhood security has more to do with awareness, participation, and consistent safety practices. Neighbors working with neighbors will help to create a sense of community and oversight. Crime can happen anywhere but there is prevention behavior that can make a difference. Always observe and report.
It is also interesting to note in the FBI reports that there has been a decrease in population in Hamilton since 2005 from year to year as well. Could it be due to the crime increase and the every rising property taxes? You decide.
