Serious Crimes Dropped In 2020: Lower Merion Police

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — Crime saw a drop-off in Lower Merion Township last year, according to the Lower Merion Police Department's Annual Report.

The 2020 Annual Report shows overall crime metrics decreased from previous years.

Serious crimes saw an 8.4 percent decrease in 2020 from 2020. Police report 852 serious crimes in 2020, down from 930 in 2019.

Last year's 852 figure is a 20.9 percent decrease from 2011's figure for serious crime, with as 1,078.

The most prevalent crime in 2020 was theft of more than $50. The report states 407 of such incidences.

Below are the number of incidences of serious crimes by crime in 2020:

• Murder — 1
• Manslaughter — 0
• Rape — 0
• Robbery — 11
• Aggravated Assault — 17
• Burglary — 60
• Theft Over $50 — 407
• Theft Under $50 — 303
• Theft of Auto — 53

While the serious crimes dropped over the last 10 years, police incidents increased by 83.7 percent in the same time frame. In 2011, police handled 32,622 incidents. That figure over 10 years increased to 59,622.

However, that increase is due in part to the police department adding traffic stops and foot patrols to their report in 2014. When looking at 2014 compared to 2020, total police incidents are down 19.2 percent from 73,771 to 59,622.

Lastly, juvenile arrests were down significantly in 2020, with police reporting just 13, down from 55 in 2019 and 102 in 2011.

Over the past 10 years, 2013 and 2014 were the busiest for police in Lower Merion. In 2013, police dealt with 1,129 serious crimes and 167 juvenile arrests, while 2014 had the most police incidents with 73,771.

See the full annual report here.