NEWARK, DELAWARE (1/7/2015) Crime in Delaware’s third-largest city dropped 14.7 percent in 2014 from the previous year, Newark police reported Tuesday.
Police noted aggravated assaults were down 42.1 percent, burglaries down 11.6 percent, and thefts down 21 percent.
But robberies increased 20.6 percent — from 29 in 2013 to 35 in 2014. Police attributed the increase largely to a group arrested in September.
Police said robberies have declined 55.1% since 2006, with aggravated assaults down 76.6 percent, burglaries down 57.1% and thefts down 38.4% in that time span.
Auto thefts also were up sharply in 2014, increasing by 20 percent, from 35 to 42 incidents from the previous year.
The Newark report includes eight “Part 1” offenses as defined for the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics. These offenses were chosen because they are serious crimes, occur with regularity in all areas of the country,and they are likely to be reported to police, according to the FBI.
Police Chief Paul Tiernan said the overall drop in crime was a result of a number of factors, “including the dynamic patrol techniques of the Uniformed Patrol Division, Street Crimes Unit, Traffic Unit, and the continued success of the Special Operations Unit. Additionally, the Department continues to utilize technology, including a network of surveillance cameras throughout the city which are monitored in the NPD 911 center,” according to a police news release.