Brick Crime Rate Down Overall, Statistics Show

The number of crimes reported in Brick over the first six months of 2014 show an overall decrease for the same time period in 2013, according to the N.J. State Police Uniform Crime Report.

The most violent crimes -- murder, rape and robbery -- in the township, which has a population of more than 75,000 people, rose, with 16 reported incidents from January to June 2014, up from 12 from January to June 2013. There was one murder -- the May beating death of Mary Francis Driscol, 94, at her home in Lions Head North. Her granddaughter, Kathryn Schubert, is facing murder charges in the case.

But assaults involving weapons and aggravated assaults (with the hands or feet) decreased, from 34 in 2013 to 23 so far this year. Simple assault reports decreased as well, from 168 for the first six months of 2013 to 137 so far this year.

Burglaries dropped 24 percent, from 125 in the first half of 2013 to 95 so far this year.

Theft reports rose to 412 from 404 in 2013, and vehicle thefts have risen as well, according to the report.