Lynn police chief sees silver lining in city’s new stats

LYNN – Police Chief John Suslak says recently released city crime statistics for 2008 give rise to concern but also show more crimes are being reported.The reported number of sexual assaults declined by 34 percent, but only after reaching a 27-year high in 2007. Forty-four sexual assaults, including rape, were reported in 2007 and 29 incidents were reported in 2008.Suslak says he consulted with Lt. Marie Hanlon of the department’s Domestic Violence Unit and believes the higher number of incidents reflects more victims have a willingness to come forward.”I spoke with Lt. Hanlon and asked, ‘Is there something here we need to be on top of? Is there a serial rapist?’ She assured me that’s not the case,” Suslak said. “Sometimes there is a spike in reporting. And sometimes an incident reported as a rape is actually a different crime” and is classified as a rape statistic.Motor vehicle thefts increased by 15 percent from 2007 to 2008, police said. The chief says oftentimes with motor vehicle thefts committed by a small number of people are responsible for a large proportion of the thefts within a short period of time.”You can have a small number of people, for example, one mini-theft ring, that can do a considerable amount of damage in a small amount of time,” Suslak said. “One arrest or a handful of arrests can make a difference.”Also noted:* Larceny was up 25 percent from 1,279 incidents in 2007 to 1,589 in 2008.* Aggravated assaults (attacks often involving guns or knives) were down 10 percent from 575 incidents in 2007 to 522 in 2008.* Robbery was down 7 percent from 196 incidents in 2007 to 184 in 2008.* Arson was down 20 percent from 31 incidents in 2007 to 25 in 2008.* Burglary was down 27 percent from 1,112 incidents in 2007 to 817 in 2008.The statistics also show homicide was up slightly, from five murders in 2007 to six in 2008. However, a reporting error in the department’s 2008 Annual Report incorrectly lists seven homicides in 2007 on the police department’s Web site, according to Deputy Chief Kenneth Santoro.Santoro added that the classifications for what constitutes a larceny or a burglary have changed since last year, meaning the 2007 statistics for larceny and burglary have been changed.