Is crime on the rise in Radnor? There have been four documented armed robberies in and around local business establishments this summer, the most recent taking place last Wednesday night when a young man entered the Domino's Pizza on West Lancaster Avenue in Wayne and demanded the money from the safe and register.
The robber, 18-year-old Adam Robert David has since been arrested, but the question this most recent incident is sparking for the community is: Are we seeing a growing trend of a progressively rising crime rate in Radnor?
Sergeant Andy Block of Radnor’s Investigations Unit says absolutely not.
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“The crime rate has not risen tremendously. We are dedicated to clearing these and making arrests as they occur and I think this most recent incident being solved within 24 hours speaks to our dedication,” he said. “We will not tolerate this.”
Shortly after the incident occurred, township commissioner John Nagle said, “We had them [Radnor Police] look into the perception that we were having a crime wave in Radnor. The answer was a resounding NO. I personally feel extremely safe, but I am always cautious.”
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One popular opinion in the community is to see the rash of recent robberies as symptomatic of the current economic climate.
"I have a heightened sense of awareness. These things can unfortunately happen anywhere. I believe it is a function of the economy and I think that our area is targeted because of the lore of the ‘Main Line’. The irony is many of us are feeling the pinch here just like others all across the country,” said Carla Zambelli of Haverford.
The simplest solution seems to be enhanced efforts on both the parts of community residents and the local authorities.
“Much of the crime we are seeing now can be reduced by residents locking their doors and asking our businesses to reduce opportunity by avoiding lone workers and limiting access after dark,” said John Fisher, President of Radnor Board of Commissioners.
From parents with small children to local business owners, a sense of heightened awareness is crucial for every Radnor resident.
Ashley Garett of Berwyn believes it’s safest to adopt a mentality of consistent vigilance:
“We can live in the safest neighborhood in the world, but what it comes down to is this world isn’t perfect. There will always be crime, but it’s about what we can do as a community to prevent it.”
