SOS ALARM

September 21, 2011

Medford’s crime numbers are up nearly across the board this year, with the traditional busiest months for criminal activity yet to come, police officials said.

The 20.6 percent increase overall is not limited to minor crimes such as shoplifting, up 6 percent over this time last year, or trespassing, up 62 percent, but also to serious person crimes, such as assault and robbery.

By the end of July, the department had responded to 776 assault calls, up from 757 the previous year. A deeper look at those totals points to a disturbing uptick in aggravated assault, a more serious crime that often ends in major injuries. Officers have investigated 139 aggravated assaults this year, up from 100 at this time in 2010.

In addition, robberies have increased from 21 to 39, and strong-arm robberies — in which force is used — skyrocketed from 1 to 11.

Read entire article at the Medford Mail Tribune.

January 5, 2011

The Medford Police Department has capped a busy year in which officers responded to more than 100,000 calls for service, and its chief hopes to add to its force next year to take off some of the pressure.

Crime numbers are up in many categories, which is both bad and good news, said Medford Police Chief Randy Schoen.

The city saw increases in reported property crimes, including burglaries and car thefts. These numbers concern Schoen heading into 2011.

“We are definitely keeping an eye on the property-crime numbers,” Schoen said. “Those are issues that affect people’s lives.”

Read entire article at the Medford Mail Tribune.