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Outage fails to generate crime spree
(CNN) -- As the blackout cloaked parts of the Northeast and Midwest United States and a swath of Canada on Thursday afternoon, many U.S. police forces found that crime did not go up when the power went down. In New York -- which has reported about 70,000 violent crimes a year since 1998 -- police reported four burglaries in the entire city overnight, and said they had made arrests in all four. Three deaths overall have been reported that were tied to the outage. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at least one person died as a result of the blackout, and at least one firefighter was injured. Calls came in for some 3,000 incidents of fire, he said, many from people using candles. Emergency services, he said, responded to 80,000 calls to 911 for help, more than double the average. (Low-tech in unplugged NYC) In Canada, Ottawa Director of Emergency Services Tony Dimanti said a 15-year-old died from injuries suffered in a fire, and another person died at the scene after being hit by a car during an altercation. In Manhattan, reputed to have daylight pickpockets and burglars, thousands slept on sidewalks and outside public buildings without fear, just hoping for a breeze. Mark, a visitor from Chicago, slept in front of the Renaissance hotel in Manhattan and appeared on CNN Friday morning. He said the experience was "definitely interesting" even though the "novelty wore off about 2 in the morning." He said he was "not scared at all. It was pretty calm out here." But emergency calls skyrocketed. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said emergency services responded to 80,000 911 calls, more than double the average. "New Yorkers showed that the city that burned in the 1970s when facing similar circumstances [during a blackout] is now a very different place, a city that can conquer adversity instead of succumb to it," he said. In Cleveland, Ohio, where all electricity should be restored by noon, the mayor said the city had no major crime problems during the blackout. Police did arrest 10 people for trying to break into homes or businesses. About 100 prisoners were moved from jails to more secure facilities, Mayor Jane Campbell said. About 100 state troopers will monitor traffic in the Cleveland area, because traffic signals could still malfunction, even after power is restored. Detroit, Michigan, officials reported a similar night of low crime. Officials said there were 88 arrests overnight -- not an extraordinary number for a city that size. No curfews are planned. But police have been fully mobilized, working on 12-hour alternating shifts. President Bush on Thursday evening told Americans he appreciated their civility. "I want to thank the people for their calm response to this emergency situation," he said. "It's been remarkable to watch on TV how resolved the people have been in dealing with this situation. I know their neighbors are thankful for the proper and calm response." However, in Canada, officials reported a number of thefts and looting. "There is serious looting going on" in parts of Ottawa, said Ottawa police chief Vince Bevan, adding there have been reports of break-ins, smashed windows and theft in the nation's capital. Ontario declared a state of emergency after the power outage. The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.
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