Crime dropped in most Middlesex County towns according to data released Monday by the FBI, although violent crime went up in New Brunswick.
Most towns in Middlesex County saw rates in most crime categories drop last year from 2013, according to FBI data released Monday. Patti Sapone / The Star Ledger landmark new brunswickNEW BRUNSWICK -- All 25 towns in Middlesex County showed drops in crime in one or more categories from 2013 to 2014, but some also showed either substantial increases or decreases in others, according to the data released Monday by the FBI.
New Brunswick had the largest increase in violent crime, from 303 incidents in 2013 to 418 in 2014, the report said. Robberies accounted for most of that increases, going from 116 to 222 between the two years, it said. Aggravated assaults also increased from 116 in 2013 to 174 in 2014.
The Hub city saw a decrease in property crime, though, from 1,665 in 2013 to 1,582 in 2014. Burglaries dropped from 546 to 523.
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Perth Amboy, also an urban center, saw a slight increase in violent crime, from 243 in 2013 to 247 in 2014, but a significant reduction in robberies -- from 95 to 79 -- in the same period. They also had a reduction of property crime from 1,042 to 987.
South Brunswick saw a significant reduction in violent crime from 21 in 2013 to 10 in 2014. Robberies went from 8 to 3; aggravated assaults dropped from 13 to 4 in the same period; and property crimes went from 540 in 2013 to 387 a year later.
South Brunswick Police Chief Ray Hayducka attributed the improved crime numbers in his town to the partnership between his department and the community helping police officers.
"We are also at the highest staffing level we've had in the past 10 years," Hayducka said. "For that, I have to thank the mayor and council."
The numbers in the county followed a trend in the state that showed a decline of 9.3 percent from 2013 and a drop in the rate of violent crime to roughly 261 offenses per 100,000 people or 9.6 percent from 2013.
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
