Fayette crime rate on rise
HARRISBURG – The crime rate appears to be soaring in Fayette County, based on a new crime study, but in reality it’s probably up only slightly. The number of reported serious crimes in the area rose by 23 percent last year, with murder, rape and assault all up significantly, according to data collected by state police. However, two local communities reported substantial decreases in serious crimes.
But statewide, serious crimes – defined as murders, manslaughters, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, larcenies and vehicle thefts – dropped 6.1 percent, from 341,528 in 2000 to 320,737 in 2001. On average, a serious crime occurred every 98 seconds in Pennsylvania.
The crime statistics are from the 2001 Uniform Crime Report (UCR), which was released this week by the state police and is available at www.state.pa.us, PA Keyword: “Crime Report.”
Connellsville City by far had the biggest increase in crimes. Only 25 crimes were reported in 2000, compared to 527 in 2001, a staggering 2,000 percent increase. Not factoring Connellsville City in, crime rose in Fayette County by 4.3 percent in 2001.
Because police departments are not required to provide information for inclusion in the report, the statistics may not be a completely accurate reflection of crime rates. Connellsville police suspect the large jump in crimes in 2001 was caused by underreporting the previous year.
“I think probably the reason was some of the months weren’t reported for 2000, and that’s what threw everything off,” said Capt. Ed McSheffery. “I don’t think all the months were turned in (to state police).”
In Uniontown, the number of serious crimes rose from 302 in 2000 to 510 in 2001, a 69-percent increase.
City Police Chief Kyle Sneddon attributed the increase to both a rise in crime and better record-keeping within the department.
About two years ago, the department switched to a computer program that tracks crime. Before that program, Sneddon said, the department infrequently turned in the voluntary monthly UCRs. In 1999, the year after Sneddon was named chief of the department, he started an effort to track crime in the city better.
“Every year our reporting system is getting a little bit better, and we’re trying to get everything modernized and up to date. We’re striving to be as accurate as we can,” he said.
Sneddon said he’s seen the most increase in robberies and noted that the city had an arson problem last year that helped raise the violent crime percentage.
And, while violent crime rises, Sneddon said he’s seen a drop in the ages of those committing such offenses.
Juvenile crime rates, said Sneddon, have risen in areas such as robberies and assaults.
“There seems to be more serious crimes committed by younger people,” he said.
While crime rose in the county’s two cities, two communities – Luzerne Township and Fairchance Borough – reported drops in crime of 54 percent and 86 percent, respectively.
Countywide, serious crime increased from 2,710 in 2000 to 3,329 in 2001. Virtually every category of crime went up. Murders doubled to four; rapes went up 28 percent, to 48; robberies went up 73 percent, to 83; assault grew by 45 percent, to 236; burglaries increased 8 percent, to 670; larcenies went up 29 percent, to 1,797; vehicle thefts increased 8 percent, to 332; and arsons grew by 12 percent, to 161.
Statewide, murders increased 12 percent, to 646, and forcible rapes increased 3.1 percent, to 3,139. Meanwhile, robberies fell 5.6 percent, to 16,515; aggravated assaults decreased 7.5 percent, to 25,337; burglaries dropped 3.3 percent, to 48,440; larcenies fell 6.6 percent, to 191,543; and vehicle thefts dropped 4.3 percent, to 32,755. Some of the figures are the lowest since the state police began keeping records in the mid-1970s, and most are the lowest in the past two decades.
“Our efforts to fight crime continue to pay off for Pennsylvania residents,” State Police Commissioner Paul Evanko said. “The numbers show that the commonwealth is the safest it has been in years.”