LEICESTER, Mass. — After another year of dedicated work keeping the community safe, Leicester police have seen the crime rate fall in three out of four categories, and have been continuing their efforts to deter criminals by keeping officers out on patrol.

2011 saw a 26 percent drop in Crimes against Society, which includes incidents involving narcotics, pornography and weapons violations.

Additionally, the was a 17 percent drop in Crimes against Public Order, which includes disorderlies, drunkenness, non-violent family offenses, liquor violations, runwaways and trespassing.

Crimes against Persons — which includes kidnapping, forceable rape, forceable fondling, aggravated assault, simple assault, intimidation of a witness, and statutory rape — was down 20 percent from 2010.

"We've made some really good gains there," said Chief Jim Hurley.

Yet there were a few categories which saw incidents increase.

In the category of Crimes against Property, for instance, there was a 257 percent increase in fraud impersonation (identity theft) as incidents climbed from 7 to 25 in 2011.

Furthermore, breaking and entering cases went up by 72 percent in 2011, increasing from 25 to 43 incidents.

Motor Vehicle thefts were also up from 10 to 15, which Hurley said was a big jump for Leicester, as they "don't normally see that many stolen cars."

"We saw a couple categories go up, but overall we only saw  a six percent increase," Hurley added.

Despite the increases, however, there have also been important successes this year.

As an example, Hurley pointed to the recent Pine Street House Break, in which a Leicester woman and another man were arrested after a neighbor reported a suspicious vehicle to the police, and investigating officers were then able to get the two suspects off the streets.

"We didn't have enough to get him for the house break, but we got him for a traffic violation that he could be arrested for," said Hurley. "He got held on that, and the long and short of it is that while he's been in custody — along with the female who we picked up on stolen property — we haven't had any housebreaks."

While the man was being held, Leicester police developed enough information to charge him with the housebreak, and connect him to others.

For the most part, Hurley attributes the department's success to two factors.

"I still firmly believe that one of the best deterrents against crime is an active police officer out on patrol doing traffic enforcement," said Chief Jim Hurley. "Unfortunately, budget cuts and the loss of our eight part-timers who were laid off and the increased amount of paperwork that is now being required of us has diminished our ability to keep as many officers out on the street. But we still do have a fairly good enforcement program."

"That to me is a big tool," he added, explaining that "it goes back to how when people drive around, and they see the cruiser on rt. 9, Stafford St. Paxton St  — even in the neigborhoods during the day, that's a big deterrent."

While people often associate motor vehicle stops with police departments trying to raise revenue, Hurley says it has nothing to do with that.

Rather, he says, "the more we can get the bad guys to see the cruisers, and the more they see people getting stopped, if you come through town and you're going to do a housebreak, or you're going to go do some other crime  — if you know the chances of you getting stopped in Leicester are fairly good, you're going to avoid us. And I think that has a big impact."

Hurley also pointed to the dedication of the Leicester Police force.

"I can't give these men and women enough credit," said Hurley. "They go out their everyday and they give 100 plus percent, and they give a lot of effort and a lot of time to the town."

Referring back to the housebreak, the chief said police spent upwards of 30 to 40 hours investigating it, and it not only helped them clear the Pine St. case, but also a housebreak in Worcester and two in Brookfield.

"Hopefully that guy is going to be gone for a while," said Hurley. "The officers go out and they work hard. The patrol officers take good reports, and they do good initial investigations and extended investigations to help out the detective."

The chief said the officers often go above and beyond to solve a case.

"Once you let people start getting away with stuff, you might as well close up shop," he said.