Data show crime rising locally

Capital Region law enforcement agencies are seeing more crime this year, reflecting a greater trend across New York.

Data presented by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services indicates major crimes have increased across the state by about 1 percent over the first six months of 2010. Acting Commissioner Sean Byrne said violent crime was up 3 percent and homicides increased by 11.5 percent across the state, statistics he considered significant given declines witnessed over the past two decades.

“There is a very real possibility that this year will mark the first time in two decades that the crime rate will have increased,” he said in testimony delivered during a budget presentation Tuesday.

Albany, Schenectady and Troy all had an increase in the number of reported crimes over the past nine months, according to figures provided by the division. But the types of crimes behind the increase varied from city to city.

For instance, Schenectady saw a 7.8 percent spike in the total number of crimes reported in the city during the first nine months of 2010. Violent crimes such as rape, murder, robbery and assault increased by 18.4 percent when compared to the same time period in 2009.

Albany police witnessed a 9.2 percent increase in reported crimes this year, but saw no change in the number violent crimes. Instead, the state capital saw an 11.4 percent rise in the number of property crimes, a figure that was nearly double the percentage increase reported in Schenectady.

Troy reported an increase of 10.6 percent in crime, including an alarming 33 percent rise in violent offenses. The Collar City also reported a 7.1 percent increase in property crimes, which includes burglaries, larcenies and motor vehicle thefts.

Some of the region’s smaller cities also saw marked increases in crime so far this year. Amsterdam police have seen a 66 percent increase in reported crime, with an eye-popping 155.6 percent spike in property offenses.

The city of Johnstown in neighboring Fulton County reported a 31 percent rise in crime this year. Reported burglaries in the city jumped from 11 in 2009 to 38 so far this year — a 245.5 percent increase.

Saratoga Springs saw reported crime stay flat so far this year. There were no appreciable increases or declines recorded in any of the categories monitored by the state.

Law enforcement officials gave varying reasons for the figures released by the division this week. Albany police spokesman James Miller said the numbers come as no surprise considering the uptick the city has seen in burglaries and vehicle break-ins.

“We’re well aware of it,” he said Wednesday.

Miller said its possible the troubled economy could be a factor in some of the increase in property crimes. But he stopped short of listing it as a reason.

“It’s too early to say without having any data to support it,” he said.

Amsterdam police Detective Owen Fuhs credited the willingness of city residents to report crimes as they are happening for helping to reduce violent crimes before they happen. Though the city saw a marked increase in reported crimes, there was a steep decline in violent incidents.

“They report more and we find more,” he said. “I think that’s a good thing.”

Calls placed to Schenectady Police Chief Mark Chaires and Commissioner Wayne Bennett were not returned Wednesday.

Byrne is advocating to maintain funding for his division so that New York doesn’t fall back into “the bad old days” of the 1970s and 1980s, when crime spiked throughout the state. He said funding law enforcement initiatives prevents crime from taking a significant toll on the state’s economy.

“We have fought too long and too hard to gain all this ground, and we don’t intend to give back an inch,” he said in testimony. “In fact, we intend to take more ground and continue — always continue — to pursue our goal to make New York state the safest state in the United States.”