Bedford Among Safest Towns in the Country to Live

Statistically, New Hampshire consistently ranks among the safest states in the United States.

According to those same statistics, detailed in a 2011 report by the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy, Bedford is second to only to Merrimack in violent crime rate among Granite State cities and towns with populations of 10,000 or more.

From 2005 through 2008, New Hampshire ranked either 49th or 50th in the United States in crime data that includes the District of Columbia.

In fact, the Granite State placed dead last in terms of murders in 2006 and 2007 and 50th in 2008. The only crime statistic that New Hampshire ranked among the bottom 30 was forcible rape (NH was 30th in 2008 and 29th in 2005, though 40th in both 2006 and 2007).

In 2010, the most recent year detailed in the report (which compiles crime data dating back to 1985), New Hampshire saw:

• One murder or non-negligent manslaughter every 28 days
• One forcible rape every 21 hours
• One robbery every 19 hours
• One aggravated assault every 7 hours
• One burglary every 1 hour and 36 minutes
• One larceny-theft every 23 minutes
• One motor vehicle theft every 9 hours.

According to those same statistics, Bedford saw 11 violent crimes that entire year, down from 20 in 2009, but up from seven in 2008. Since 1985, Bedford has seen more than 24 violent crimes once, in 1989, where 28 of the 29 reported incidents were listed as violent assaults.

In terms of total reported crimes in 2010, Bedford Police reported:

• 5 forcible rapes
• 1 robbery
• 5 aggravated assaults
• 32 burglaries
• 6 motor vehicle thefts
• 324 incidents of property crime
• 286 incidents of larceny theft

At last Thursday's community meeting, Bedford Police Chief John Bryfonski cited those relatively low numbers in an open attempt to provide residents – fearful of a possible assailant still on the loose following the violent attack at 7 Proclamation Court – with an added layer of comfort in their security.

In a statement, prepared for the Union Leader last week and shared with Bedford Patch, Bryfonski echoed a similar sentiment while appealing to residents to exercise their own abilities to help keep Bedford safe. The full statement reads as follows:

Good Afternoon:  It is almost as important to “feel safe” in one’s home and community as it is to actually “be safe”.  These two concepts are very dissimilar for one goes to the physical safety and security of our residents while the other addresses the sense of security and safety, two very dissimilar perspectives.

Bedford is a safe and secure community based on all statistical measures commonly used to analyze such data.  For example, Bedford’s Crime Index of 52 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants is very low (based on 2010 NH Crime Index Data) when compared to other communities of similar size.  In addition, burglaries in Bedford are below the level experienced in 2011, largely due to new patrol strategies designed to be more precise in terms of the deployment of our limited resources to address specific issues based on intelligence and other data.

However, even when statistically safe and knowing the incidence of the same category of crime as that which occurred on Proclamation Court is lower today when compared to last year, neither impacts the sense of security felt by our residents after learning that a crime like the one on Proclamation Court was committed in Bedford.  Therefore, it is imperative for the Bedford Police Department to assure our residents that everything possible is being done to identify, arrest and successfully prosecute the person(s) responsible for this crime.  This effort includes, as previously reported, the leveraging of investigative resources from not only the Bedford Police Department, but also the New Hampshire State Police as well as other supporting local, county and Federal agencies who have the capacity and expertise available to assist our efforts.  Our detectives and those from the State Police have been working tirelessly in this effort and I can’t praise them enough for their professionalism, diligence, work ethic and dedication in connection with this case.  In addition to our investigative efforts, we have put additional marked and unmarked patrols in our neighborhoods which have been augmented by patrols from the New Hampshire State Police.

I understand and know from speaking with a number of residents they feel less safe than they did prior to November 24th and I want to reassure them we are doing everything we can to make sure they are safe and that they feel safe as well.  However, there are many things the community itself can do to help law enforcement be more effective in defeating such crime; specifically by remaining alert and vigilant; by taking note of anything out of the ordinary or suspicious in and around their homes and neighborhoods and to contact the Bedford Police by calling 911 anytime they see something that appears suspicious; from an unfamiliar car parked on the street in their neighborhood to someone walking at an unusual hour and or in an unusual place.  When in doubt, we urge our residents to call us for that is our calling; to serve and protect.  We like to remind our residents, “Help Keep an Eye on Bedford – See Something – Say Something”.

There are also a host of things residents can do beyond being vigilant, and that is to engage and use all available security systems you have ranging from simply keeping exterior lights illuminated and locking doors/windows, to keeping your garage doors closed and or locked; by engaging any silent or audible security systems and remembering to stop mail and or other deliveries as they are sure tell tales for anyone seeking a home to burglarize.  We also urge residents to avail themselves of Bedford Police Department’s vacant property check system if they plan to be away for an extended period of time, especially during the holiday season and to work with your neighbors in keeping an eye on each other’s property and perhaps forming a neighborhood watch as others in Bedford have done as part of Bedford Police Department’s Community Policing Program.

The women and men of the Bedford Police Department have dedicated their professional careers to keeping our residents safe and secure as well as feeling safe and secure.  We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to bring those responsible for this crime to the bar of justice no matter how long it takes.  I would end by reminding our residents that to accomplish this mission, we must be mindful of the need to restrict information that would harm, inhibit or prevent our detectives and prosecutors from this goal.  That said, I will ensure all information that can be released and that should be released to the public about this case in view of the restrictions noted above and to urge anyone with any information related to this crime to call the Bedford Police Department at 603-472-5113.

Bedford Patch will continue to follow the home invasion/violent assault case and will provide updates as information is made available. In the meantime, follow us on our Facebook page, Twitter feed, and be the first to know when news breaks by signing up for our FREE daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.