Second of four parts

Reports of crime in Salisbury Township appear to be have declined slightly in a year-to-year comparison in the Uniform Crime Report.

However, overall reports increased in 2017, compared to 2016.

By category, assault increased slightly, sexual assault increased significantly, drug arrests more than doubled and vehicle stops under the Lehigh County Casino Grant increased significantly.

Criminal investigation activity was stable in most major categories in 2017 compared to 2016, based on an analysis by The Press of statistics provided by the Salisbury Township Police Department.

In the category of burglary, there were 39 in 2017, down from 44 reported in 2016 and up from 26 in 2015.

In the category of theft, there were 166 in 2017, down from 202 reported in 2016 and up from 160 in 2015.

Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles released the annual year in review report to commissioners and the media.

Sgt. Donald Sabo Jr. is township criminal investigation commander. Detective Kevin Kress is criminal investigation coordinator.

Auto theft was also down, with nine reported in 2017, compared to 13 reported in 2016 and five in 2015.

Robbery was also down, with two reported in 2017, compared to five in 2016 and three in 2015.

Assault increased slightly, with 27 reported in 2017, compared to 21 in 2016 and 23 in 2015.

Sexual assault increased significantly, with 17 reported in 2017, compared to two in 2016, and eight in 2015.

Arson was stable, with none reported in 2017, compared to none in 2016 and one reported in 2015.

Drug arrests more than doubled, with 54 in 2017, compared to 25 in 2016 and 18 in 2015.

No homicides were reported in 2017, 2016 or 2015.

Also reported in 2017: fraud, 24, up from 22 in 2016; criminal mischief, 59, down from 62 in 2016, and disorderly conduct, 61 in 2017, up from 47 in 2016. These categories were not listed in the 2015 annual report.

Offenses listed under the Uniform Crime Report, totaled 458 in 2017, up from 443 in 2016 and 244 in 2015.

Under the category of persons charged, 348 adults were charged in 2017, down from 398 adults charged in 2016, and up from 279 adults charged in 2015.

There were 96 juveniles charged in 2017, up from 90 juveniles charged in 2016 and 73 in 2015.

The value of property stolen was $496,744 in 2017, down from $499,611 in 2016, and up from $181,229 in 2015.

The value of property recovered was $124,719 in 2017, up from $115,147 in 2016 and $54,217 in 2015.

The township police department traffic safety and enforcement also saw increases, under the direction of Senior Patrol Officer Bryan Losagio, traffic safety coordinator.

Under aggressive driving enforcement, there were 307 vehicle stops and 380 traffic citations in 2017, down from 326 vehicle stops and 437 traffic citations in 2016, and up from 233 vehicle stops and 260 traffic citations in 2015.

Under Buckle Up Pa, there were 101 vehicle stops and 122 traffic citations in 2017, down from 221 vehicle stops and 300 traffic citations in 2016, and 124 vehicle stops and 135 traffic citations in 2015.

The Buckle Up Pa. child safety seat awareness category was not listed in the 2017 report. There were 674 motorists contacted in 2016. This category was not listed in the 2015 report.

Under DUI enforcement roving patrols and check points, there were 15 vehicle stops, three DUI arrests, six traffic citations, and one drug arrest in 2017, compared to 15 vehicle stops, 14 DUI arrests, 14 traffic citations and two drug arrests in 2016, and 15 vehicle stops, one DUI arrest and six traffic citations in 2015.

Under the Lehigh County Casino Grant, there were 375 vehicle stops, 415 traffic citations and three arrests, up significantly from 242 vehicle stops, 353 traffic citations and seven arrests in 2016, and 275 vehicle stops, 283 traffic citations and four non-traffic arrests in 2015.

Also, according to the 2017 report, traffic stops in the casino traffic safety corridor (East Susquehanna Street, East Emmaus Avenue and Broadway) resulted in three arrests for possession of controlled substances, one stolen vehicle arrest and one arrest of a felon in possession of a handgun. That compares to the 2016 report for arrests for possession of controlled substances, using altered or fraudulent state documents, three DUIs, felony fleeing police, possession of alcohol by a minor, depositing debris on a highway and apprehending a wanted fugitive.

In all, there were 798 vehicle stops, 923 traffic citations, three DUIs and nine arrests, compared to 804 vehicle stops, 1,104 traffic citations, 14 DUIs and four non-traffic arrests in 2016, and to 647 vehicle stops, 684 traffic citations, one DUI and four non-traffic arrests in 2015.

Next week: Part 3, Salisbury Township Police Department 2017 Annual Report: Grants and training.