19% Rise In Major Crimes In Bucks County: Sheriff

BUCKS COUNTY, PA —Northampton Township has a continuing problem with mail theft: It's grown by 600 percent in more than two years.

Northampton Township Police Chief Steven LeCompte cited the statistic during a hearing last Thursday in conjunction with the House Republican Policy Committee that focused on the reasons behind the increase in crime in Bucks County.

“Mail theft is often an organized criminal act, and the grading of the offense should reflect the serious impact it has had on our businesses and residents,” LeCompte said. “The problem is so serious we told our residents to take their mail into the post office to prevent theft and to avoid using the U.S. mailboxes outside the post office.”

The hearing by state Reps. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) and Kathleen “K.C.” Tomlinson (R-Bucks) offered testimony from LeCompte as well as Bensalem Police Director of Public Safety William McVey, Rudolph Mueller, security director at Bimbo Bakeries, and Upper Southampton Township Police Chief Dominic Varacallo.

Also testifying at the hearing were Jennifer Schorn, Bucks County's first assistant district attorney, and County Sheriff Fred Harran about the crime creeping into the suburbs from Philadelphia.

“As crime continues to rise in the Philadelphia area, it is becoming harder for our communities to feel safe,” Marcell said. “It is crucial we do all we can to find the reasons why this increase is happening and what we can do to fight back against it. With a district attorney unwilling to act in Philadelphia, it has become clear it is up to us as legislators to find solutions to this crime increase. It is crucial we put the safety of our constituents first.”

Tomlinson represents Bensalem, a stone's throw from Philadelphia.

“Representing a community directly bordering Philadelphia, I know firsthand the consequences of trickle-down crime from the city,” Tomlinson said. “This increase in crime makes families feel less safe, small businesses feel unprotected, and makes the job of our law enforcement harder. The consequences this increase has on our communities impact every person in our districts. It’s time to refocus on justice for those who have been affected and give our law enforcement the tools they need to do their jobs.”

Harran provided statistics on the general increase of crime in Bucks County, along with the growing use of xylazine in communities.

Last year, the sheriff said Bucks County experienced major increases in crime overall:

• Robbery —Up by 22.7 percent
• Sexual Assault —Up by 17.1 percent
• Burglary —Up by 32.9 percent
• Theft —Up by 21.8 percent
• Auto Theft —30.6 percent
• Major Crimes —Up by 18.7 percent

The sheriff said that along with the increase in crime, police, sheriff and corrections departments continue to see a reduced number of law enforcement applicants, making it difficult to staff and protect our communities.

“You often hear the phrase 'Crime knows no borders,’ and this is so true in this situation,” Harran said. “When Philadelphia criminals commit crimes in Bucks County, the reception is much different here. They are arrested, prosecuted and, if convicted, they go to jail.”

Schorn discussed the rise of catalytic converter thefts and how making those thefts felonies instead of misdemeanors would help police save resources to be used to investigate more brutal crimes.

“It is a blight on all of our resources day in and day out,” Schorn said. “As the resources are devoted to these thefts, homicides are happening. And the same detectives who must investigate the most brutal homicides are getting swept so thin because they’re dealing with a rash of catalytic converter thefts.”

McVey testified how stronger penalties are needed for those who possess firearms illegally.

“These are the people who should never possess a firearm. They have lost that right,” McVey said. “When an officer removes a gun from a felon, they may have saved a future life or prevented a future tragedy. The problem is, that without strong penalties, these felons are often released and go back to carrying and using illegal firearms."

He said that many of the felons were arrested after being stopped in a car stop by an officer for a minor offense. Many are from Philadelphia, in some cases out on bail for illegal gun charges or violent crime, McVey added.

"Without a system of justice that holds criminals accountable and places more focus on the victims of crime, we will continue to be plagued by what we are seeing play out now on our streets,” he said.