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Crime & Safety

Swampscott Crime Was Down in 2010

But drug possession and intent to sell charges were up.

recorded a slightly higher number of overall criminal charges filed in 2010 compared to the previous year, despite a dramatic increase in charges related to drug possession and possesion with intent to sell.

In 2009, Swampscott police recorded a total of 446 criminal charges filed in 103 criminal categories, compared to 474 charges in 2010 for 100 categories, a difference of 28 additional criminal charges in the most recent year.

However, when you consider that there were 33 additional charges for drug related crimes alone from 2009 to 2010, the overall number of charges actually dropped in most categories.

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A closer look at major crime categories further showed the decrease in crime during 2010.

"We're usually pretty consistent year to year with the types of crimes we see here in Swampscott," explained Swampscott Detective Sergeant Tim Cassidy. "With the economy the way it has been, I'd expect to see that theft crimes and shoplifting might be up, but otherwise most categories would be fairly constant."

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Given the relatively low criminal activity in Swampscott, both  Cassidy and Lieutenant Richard Stevens said that the overall statistics for the department could be skewed in a given category by an individual or spree offender, who eludes capture for a short time.

As an example, they pointed to the category of motor vehicle larceny, also called car break-ins.

Early in 2010, the town had a short period of car breaks that occurred in two neighborhoods in town over the course of a few weeks. In each case, multiple car owners in each neighborhood reported break-ins during that time resulting in a total of 16 reported motor vehicle break-ins in 2010.

In 2009, there was no such activity and the town saw just one reported car break-in that year. However, the entire 16 charges were filed against just three individuals, who were all captured after just two weeks on the prowl.

In fact, motor vehicle breaks and operating under the influence of alcohol and drug possession charges were the only crime categories that saw double digit increases from 2009 to 2010. 

Most other categories, particularly those that are often considered major crime categories like assault and battery, robbery, and violent crimes either saw decreases or held steady in 2010.

The chart below shows most of the major criminal categories in Swampscott in 2009 and 2010.

In some cases, multiple sub-categories have been combined to show a  total number of similar crimes in that category, such as with assault and battery, which actually shows the total of four sub-catgeories not including domestic assault and battery incidents, which are recorded separately.

"Just looking at the numbers of charges filed, or even the statistics for incident responses, really only shows a fraction of the activity in the department," explained Lt. Stevens.

The records kept by the department for criminal charges do not include charges sought through warrants in court and the records for incidents responded to.

In addition, they do not accurately reflect the number of visits made by detectives following up on investigations before charges are brought.

Crime

2009

2010

Assaults

21

18

Domestic Assault

36

25

Breaking & Entering

5

8

OUI Liquor

27

38

Resisting Arrest

6

1

Shoplifting

15

16

Drug Possession w/Intent to Distribute

16

47

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