Despite Homicides, Crime Down in Gloucester Township in 2014

Despite two reported murders in Gloucester Township this year, the total crime rate is down 4.8 percent for the first six months of 2014.

The total number of reported crimes for January-June of 2014 is 868, down from 912 for the same time period last year, according to the New Jersey State Police Uniform Crime Report.

Violent crime is down 11.7 percent, from 103 incidents to 91. The non-violent crime rate is down 8.2 percent.

One person has already been charged in one of the homicides reported in the township this year. Joshua Rivera-Santos, 21, was charged with murder in connection with the death of his 21-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Ugarte in May of this year.

However, a $1,000 reward is still being offered for information that may lead to the arrest and conviction in connection with the murder of 29-year-old Kareem Coleman, who was shot at his home in the Millbridge Apartments shortly after 2 a.m. on April 20.

The report was released prior to an incident this week in which a Gloucester Township man allegedly shot his wife to death at Kennedy Hospital in Stratford. Their son was found shot to death in their home the same day.

There were seven rapes and one attempted rape reported this year, compared with four rapes last year.

There were 19 robberies, including 10 that involved firearms this year, compared to 11 robberies, and just two that involved firearms in 2013.

Simple assaults went 16.3 percent, from 141 to 164.

Decreases came in the areas of assault, burglary, larceny theft and motor vehicle theft.

Assaults are down 29.5 percent, from 88 incidents to 62.

Burglaries are down 8.6 percent, from 163 to 149.

Larceny theft declined 7.9 percent, from 491 incidents to 452.

There were two less motor vehicle thefts, down to 12 this year from 14 last year.