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Dozens of residents and
community groups braved oppressive heat Tuesday to join
police from the 111th Precinct for the National Night
Out Against Crime in one of the city's safest areas that
is nevertheless battling a jump in crime.
First Deputy Commissioner
George Grasso, a resident, praised the 111th Precinct
for a drop in reported incidents that he called
"staggering" compared to the crime statistics of the
early 1990s.
"We know that we cannot
take anything for granted," Grasso said. "In the quarter
of a century that I've been here, thank God, things have
only gotten better."
Deputy Inspector Scott Hanover, the commander of the
111th, urged residents to help police create a safer
community.
"We can't do it alone, the Police Department," Hanover
said. "It's not a one-dimensional fight against crime."
The event came as the 111th Precinct faced an overall 18
percent increase in major crimes so far in 2006 while
the city as a whole experienced a 5 percent decrease,
according to the latest police statistics. Although the
precinct is up in several categories, burglaries in
particular have been a problem.
From Jan. 1 through July 23, burglary reports increased
74 percent over the same period in 2005, while the
citywide average remained the same. Burglaries have been
such a problem that crime prevention officers in the
111th have gone door-to-door to offer homeowners tips on
how to protect their property.
The 111th remains one of the safest precincts in the
city and there have been no murders reported in the past
two years. But there were three rapes reported so far in
2006, compared to one in all of 2005, and the precinct
has seen other categories of crime rise as well.
Robberies are up by 26 percent over the same period last
year and serious assaults are up about 22 percent. Auto
theft dropped by 21 percent.
The precinct is in some ways a victim of its own
success-the historic lows police achieved in recent
years are difficult to sustain and slight increases in
crime are reflected in year-to-year comparisons. While
the burglary rate jumped 74 percent so far in 2006, a
difference of 89 incidents over that period last year
accounted for that increase. Citywide there have been
more than 12,000 burglaries reported in 2006, according
to Police Department statistics.
Reach reporter John Tozzi by e-mail at news@timesledger.com
or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 174. |
