Crime Is Down?

Mayor Tom Leighton

At their last council meeting, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton announced to the total disbelief of the people in attendance, that crime was down in the city.  My initial thought was that I wanted some of those drugs that the mayor was on because he was on another planet.  Perhaps Uranus.  However, there are statistics out there that support his statement.  As of Friday, The Pennsylvania State Police Uniform Crime Reporting System (that's a mouthful) showed a 5.06 percent decrease in known offenses in a year to year comparison.  Hard to believe, right?  In fact, the data for the city showed a total of 1,540 offenses reported to police as of Friday compared to 1,622 from a year ago. The crimes fall under 41 classifications ranging from murder to disorderly conduct to a collection of unclassified offenses.  Overall there was an increase in 22 of the 41 classifications, four classifications were unchanged and decreases in the remaining 15 classifications.  Here is a quick breakdown of some of the "classified offenses".

Stolen property crimes up from 3 to 31 or 933%.
Marijuana possession up from 8 to 19 or 138%. 
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter up from 2 to 3 or 50%.

Unchanged were assaults with a dangerous weapon other than a knife or firearm (3), forgery and counterfeiting, drug sale and manufacturing of marijuana and driving under the influence.

There were no reports of possession of synthetic drugs, forcible rape and assault with a knife or cutting instrument. Those classifications showed a 100 percent decrease.

The bottom line here is the stats are misleading.  If you really look at these numbers, the story is clear.  Crime in total may be down, but the types of crimes being committed are up.  Stolen property, marijuana possession and murder total up to DRUG DEALERS

                   Theft + drugs + murder = drug dealers

The city is filled with them like rats in a blighted property.  These filthy parasites from Philly and New York are pouring into the city like water over a dam.  Just think about it.  The druggies have to steal to get money, the cops can only arrest the poor guy looking for a little pot and the dealers have no second thoughts about whacking someone.  It's as clear as day.  By the way, I did not see any data on cocaine, meth or heroine arrests.  Why?  Let me tell you.  Our cops are afraid of these dealers because they are armed to the hilt with illegally obtained automatic weapons.  They let the State Police and the Feds handle these.  The city of Wilkes-Barre is a shit-hole.  It's a mess and covering this fact up with a few misleading statistics makes me sick.  Shame on you Mayor Tom!

P.S.  Where were you on St. Patrick's Day Mayor Leighton?  I was at Senunas all day and did not see you.  Avoiding the R2G?