Is Violent Crime on the Rise in Londonderry?

Statistically, New Hampshire consistently ranks among the safest states in the United States.

According to those same statistics, detailed in a 2011 report by the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy, Londonderry is 12th lowest in the state in violent crime rate among the 28 Granite State cities and towns with populations of 10,000 or more.

From 2005 through 2008, New Hampshire ranked either 49th or 50th in the United States in crime data that includes the District of Columbia.

In fact, the Granite State placed dead last in terms of murders in 2006 and 2007 and 50th in 2008. The only crime statistic that New Hampshire ranked among the bottom 30 was forcible rape (New Hampshire was 30th in 2008 and 29th in 2005, though 40th in both 2006 and 2007).

In 2010, the most recent year detailed in the report (which compiles crime data dating back to 1985), New Hampshire saw:

• One murder or non-negligent manslaughter every 28 days
• One forcible rape every 21 hours
• One robbery every 19 hours
• One aggravated assault every 7 hours
• One burglary every 1 hour and 36 minutes
• One larceny-theft every 23 minutes
• One motor vehicle theft every 9 hours.

According to those same statistics, Londonderry saw 29 violent crimes that entire year, up from 22 in 2009 and 16 in 2008. Since 1985, Londonderry has seen more than 40 violent crimes once, in 1989, where 47 of the 49 reported incidents were listed as violent assaults.

In terms of total reported crimes in 2010, Londonderry Police reported:

• 5 forcible rapes
• 3 robberies
• 20 aggravated assaults
• 78 burglaries
• 14 motor vehicle thefts
• 338 incidents of property crime
• 246 incidents of larceny theft

A new report detailing another year of crime date is released in January of each year.