Crime & Safety
Hopatcong, Sparta Rank in Top-10 of NJ's Safest Communities
Both communities were rated partially on their crime statistics and found to be among the state's safest.
Both Hopatcong and Sparta were given high honors in a top 50 list of New Jersey's safest communities.
Both communities ranked in the top ten on the list put out by Safewise, an Internet site that rates home security systems. Sparta was second on the list, being edged out by Mahwah, which was first on the ranking. Hopatcong was just five rankings below Sparta, at a respectable seven on the list.
Safewise came up with the list by combining statistics from the FBI’s 2011 Crime in the U.S. Report with their own "comprehensive investigation" to come up with the listing. Communities who made the list had 15,000 residents or more as of 2011, the company said.
In Sparta, Safeguard extolled Lake Mohawk and 11 private lake communities: "people who move to Sparta rarely leave." Less than 20 burglaries were reported in Sparta in 2011, the report said, citing FBI stats.
Hopatcong received equal praise from the Safeguard ranking. The borough "enjoys distinction as a safe place to raise a family. No arsons, murders, rapes or robberies were reported to law enforcement in 2011."
The rest of the Safeguard report is at this link.
Do you agree with Safeguard's assessment that Hopatcong and Sparta are among the Top Ten Safest Communities in New Jersey? Post your thoughts below.
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