There were 372 homicides in 2010, a double-digit increase from 2009 but only slightly more than the decade average of 369
N.J. Attorney General Paula Dow is shown in this file photo. Released today, the 2010 Uniform Crime Report found overall crime in the Garden State rose 1 percent from 2009, though murders spiked 16 percent.TRENTON — Murders in New Jersey were up 16 percent last year, and they increased in all corners of the state, from rural towns to the largest the cities, according to statistics released today by the State Police.
The number of killings increased 10 percent in cities with more than 50,000 people. But they also increased 8 percent in the suburbs and 21 percent in rural areas, the State Police’s Uniform Crime report shows.
In all, there were 372 homicides in 2010, a double-digit increase from the previous year but only slightly more than the decade average of 369, according to the statistics.
Overall crime in New Jersey rose 1 percent, while the crime rate — calculated as offenses per 1,000 residents — rose by 0.4 percent. The crime rate remains lower than the average for the past five years.
Wayne Fisher, director of the Police Institute at Rutgers University, said although murders were on the rise, they do not necessarily indicate that the Garden State was any less safe last year.
"The best single indicator is robbery," said Fisher, who noted that burglaries and aggravated assaults also show criminal trends.
Robberies increased 2 percent in 2010 and burglaries increased 5 percent, while aggravated assaults fell about 1 percent, according to the report.
The Uniform Crime Report issued late today largely mirrored a report released in September by the FBI. But it also provided more details:
• An average of one murder, three rapes, 32 robberies and 38 aggravated assaults happened every day last year.
• There was $354.8 million worth of property stolen, and authorities recovered 26 percent of that amount.
• Bias-related crimes increased 13.5 percent, and harassment accounted for 45 percent of those crimes.
• The most murders occurred on Saturdays, while the least occurred on Fridays. The most crimes happened in August, and the fewest in February.
• Police cleared a lower percentage of rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts, and a higher percentage of murders and larceny/thefts.
• Carjackings rose by 52 percent and happened most in residential areas at night.
• The number of domestic violence crimes increased 1 percent, while the number of murders attributed to domestic violence decreased 3 percent.
Attorney General Paula Dow said in a statement that, given the slight increase in crime, law enforcement must remain vigilant.
"We must be aggressive and smart in fighting crime, especially during this economic crisis facing our state and nation," Dow said.
But Fisher said attributing crime trends to the economy can be tricky.
"The relationship between the economy and crime rates is not as simple as people think," Fisher said.
In 157 rural municipalities, robberies increased 17 percent and burglaries increased 10 percent, while the number of aggravated assaults remained the same. Violent crime rose 3 percent, and overall crime increased 4 percent.
In 254 suburban municipalities, burglaries increased 3 percent while robberies fell 10 percent and aggravated assaults fell 9 percent. Violent crime dropped 9 percent, and total crime rose 1 percent.
In 155 urban municipalities, burglaries rose 6 percent, robberies by 4 percent and aggravated assaults by 1 percent. Violent crimes increased 3 percent, and overall crime by 1 percent.
Law enforcement officials have also said they will be keeping a close eye on crime statistics from last year and this year to gauge the effect of police layoffs prompted by budget cuts.
The report said the number of full time police officers fell by 4 percent.
Related coverage:
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• Despite police layoffs, Newark sees fewer homicides this summer
• Braun: Newark's violence points to cop layoffs, breakdown in values