Midyear Report Shows Increase in Serious Crimes

During the first six months of 2011, the Ledyard Police Department experienced a 13 percent increase in violent crimes, including a two-fold increase in aggravated assault, over the same period in 2010.

There was a 28 percent increase in property crimes, including a 70 percent increase in burglary, as well as increases in several types of larceny during the first six months of the year, according to a report presented by Ledyard Police Lt. Michael Finkelstein.

“I think in general the number of calls for service are down, but what we’ve seen is an increase in larger impact crimes,” Finkelstein said. “Could you say the economy is a factor? Absolutely.”

There was a sharp increase in drug-related violations, including possession of marijuana and other illegal drugs. Finkelstein said there have been 29 arrests in the first six months of 2011, up 480 percent over last year. 

Ledyard police made 48 DUI arrests in the first six months of 2011, compared to 87 DUI arrests in all of 2010.

“We have found that if we’re more proactive in our enforcement of DUI violations we have fewer traffic fatalities,” Finkelstein said.

The report shows the Ledyard Police Department made 125 criminal arrests through June, up slightly over 2010. The department was involved in 487 criminal investigations during that time, a slight decrease.

But as mentioned, Finkelstein said, the more significant increase was in the more serious crimes, which have a greater impact on resources, he said.

Motor vehicle accidents in Ledyard spiked in 2010, with 459 total. Ledyard Police assisted in 201 motor vehicle accidents so far this year, which is down from the previous year.

There were 4,516 calls for service from January through June. Calls include any request for police assistance by the community as recorded by the dispatch system.

This year’s calls are down slightly from last year at the six-month point, but Finkelstein said calls made during tropical storm Irene are likely to push that number back up for the year.

Calls for service peaked in 2010 at 9,763, up from 2,423 in 2000.