For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 30, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: john@jgpr.net

Bedford Saw More Than 16 Percent Drop in Property Crime from 2014 to 2015

BEDFORD — Chief Robert Bongiorno is pleased to report that the Bedford Police Department oversaw a greater than 16 percent drop in property crimes from 2014 to 2015, according to the most recent data collected and released by The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting tracks the four types of property crimes: burglary, larceny, arson, and motor vehicle theft, and the department’s statistics were recently compared from calendar year 2014 to calendar year 2015.

According to the data, Bedford saw a 16.6 percent drop in property crimes, with 55 cases in 2015 compared to 2014’s 66 incidents. Larceny crimes in particular decreased by nearly two-thirds. The following provides a breakdown for each category:

• Burglary: 15 in 2015; 5 in 2014
• Larceny: 37 in 2015; 59 in 2014
• Arson: 0 in 2015, 0 in 2014
• Motor Vehicle Theft: 3 in 2015, 2 in 2014

While crime rates remain very low, Chief Bongiorno says there is still work to do: “These statistics signify value in the police department’s constant training and renew our drive to further secure our community’s safety.”

“I am encouraged by the numbers, but they serve as constant reminders of the importance of modern police policy, constant training, and community policing,” Chief Bongiorno said. “The men and women of the Bedford Police Department will continue working to make Bedford the safest community it can be for our residents, business owners, and visitors.”

The only crime that significantly increased was burglaries: 15 incidents in 2015 up from five in 2014. The Bedford Police Department recommends the following safety tips to keep you and your home safe:

• Keep your homes locked
• Create a clean view (cut shrubs, open blinds, etc.)
• Keep aware of your neighborhood and call in all suspicious persons and vehicles to the police
• Use your alarms systems, automated lights, motion sensor lighting etc.
• Use the Bedford Police Away Book notification on the Bedford Police Department website to notify police if you are on vacation
• Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers build up while you are away
• Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly
• Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time

And as always, call 911 in case of emergency.

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