Violent crime down, thefts up
A new study from Western Connecticut State University says the rate of violent crime has dropped substantially in the almost two decades since casinos opened in the southeastern part of the state. But the losses incurred by crimes against property have skyrocketed.
According to the New London Day, violent crimes in a dozen towns near Connecticut’s casinos have declined by more than 9 percent over the past 20 years. But the total value of losses in crimes against property soared by nearly 40 percent.
Research leader Francis Muska studied “index crimes” including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, as well as crimes against property, like burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson. “I had not seen a study that looks at casinos’ impact on the quality of life by looking at crime,” he told the Day. “There had to be some negative influences.”
Over the five years of what Muska called the pre-casino era (1992-96), the 12 municipalities reported more than 29,300 index crimes and property losses totaling more than $25.7 million. In five years from the post-casino era (Muska studied 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2011), there were almost 26,600 crimes in the towns as well as “on-site” at the casinos, and property losses of nearly $35.8 million. In short, major crimes were down 9.3 percent while property losses were up 38.9 percent.
“If more people are working, there are more things to steal,” explained Muska. “A wallet somebody takes at the casino’s going to have money in it.”
He attributed the reduction in crime to a stronger presence by the state police. Under agreements signed this year, the state police department has largely ceded that role to tribal police.
“There’s a strong correlation between urbanization and crime rates,” Muska said. “A casino in Bridgeport (as was once proposed) would have been a disaster.”
