By Susan C. Moeller / Senior Reporter

(Sept. 15, 2009, 3:45 p.m.) — Local municipalities have a higher crime rate than that of other Bergen County municipalities, according to a summary of violent and non-violent criminal incidents released by the state attorney general Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The Uniform Crime Report, which tracks the number of murders, rapes, burglaries and other significant criminal acts throughout the state, indicates that last year, all six of the towns and boroughs in South Bergen had more than the county rate of 15.6 crimes per 1,000 people. North Arlington came closest to the rest of Bergen County, with 15.8 crimes per 1,000 people.

Rutherford saw the area’s largest growth in reported criminal activity.

A total of 396 serious incidents occurred in the borough during 2008, compared with 311 in 2007. The increase was based solely on a spike in non-violent crimes — defined as burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. Violent crime was lower by four incidents in 2008.

In the non-violent category, larceny accounted for most of the jump in Rutherford’s crime index number, according to Police Director John Thompson.

Specifically, there were many thefts of global positioning units from automobiles, added Capt. Joseph Merli. “It’s a random act, and it’s easy to do,” Merli said.

But, Rutherford police officers were able to clear up most of the thefts, Thompson said, praising the borough’s detectives for their efforts.

The nation’s recession should get some of the blame for increased crimes.

“When the economy’s down, people look to make ends meet,” Thompson said.

In response to the theft problem, the borough will work to implement a more aggressive neighborhood watch program, according to Mayor John Hipp.

Hipp also praised the police department for its role in breaking up a regional ring of thieves.

East Rutherford’s crime rate was the area’s highest for 2008, at 39.9 per 1,000 people.

That number is deceptive, according to Police Chief Larry Minda. The population of East Rutherford is only 9,000, he pointed out. But, on big game days at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, when either the New York Jets or Giants are playing, an additional 80,000 people can pour into the borough.

The East Rutherford Police Department teams up with the New Jersey State Police and private security companies to handle law enforcement needs at the sports complex. But, regardless of which agency responds to a problem, criminal activity is tracked geographically, leaving East Rutherford holding the bag.

In Lyndhurst, the total number of crimes decreased by 42. Changing the department’s schedule to incorporate12-hour shifts has helped the officers be more effective, according to Commissioner of Public Safety Robert Giangeruso, himself a 30-year veteran of the Lyndhurst Police Department. Lyndhurst has also hired two police dispatchers, freeing more officers for patrol, and the department has up-to-date high quality equipment, Giangeruso noted.

Statewide, violent crimes decreased by 1 percent, and non-violent crimes increased by 3 percent, with a total crime rate of 26.2 per 1,000 residents.