By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
The 111th Police Precinct has experienced a dramatic rise in burglaries over the last two weeks, prompting community leaders to renew their calls for higher staffing levels at the 111th.
From April 28 to May 4, there were 19 successful burglaries in the 10-square-mile precinct that covers Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Oakland Gardens and part of Auburndale, Police Department statistics show. The precinct's own count was lower at 14.
For the last week of April 2002, there were only seven burglaries, according to the statistics.
The spike continued from May 5 to May 11 with 16 burglaries, said 111th Community Affairs Officer Santo Elardo. The NYPD had yet to post the latest numbers for this period.
Officer Anthony Lombardi said the precinct usually averages about one burglary a day, but that even with the latest spike, the number of break-ins in the precinct was still down for the year.
NYPD statistics showed that burglaries were down 8 percent in the 111th so far this year compared to the same span in 2002. A total of 476 burglaries occurred in the 111th Precinct last year.
“Usually in the Queens North precincts, you're going to have more burglaries and grand larceny auto than in other areas,” said Lombardi. “Let's face it, people here have nice homes and nice cars.”
Lombardi said periodic increases in burglaries were not unusual for the precinct.
“It's pretty sporadic,” said Lombardi.
Though the recent burglaries were not concentrated in any one area, most were committed by people breaking into houses through rear windows, said Lombardi.
Two suspected burglars were arrested during the afternoon of May 5 after police received a call that they had tried to climb into a window of a house on 33rd Avenue and the Clearview Expressway, Lombardi said.
One of the two men was spotted fleeing on a bicycle and the other was seen walking out of the house's backyard, the officer said. One had several previous arrests on his record for robbery and drug possession, Lombardi said.
The recent increase in burglaries prompted local leaders to reiterate their concerns over the dwindling number of officers at the 111th, which currently has about 100 officers – the lowest in the borough and perhaps even the city.
City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who brought the burglary spike to the public's attention, said in a news release “regardless of crime statistics each and every precinct must have a minimum staffing level. In my opinion, the 111th is below that mark.”
Avella recently discussed the issue with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who responded to letters from Community Board 11 Chairman Jerry Iannece and Bayside Hills Civic Association president Michael Feiner about the precinct's low staffing.
“While it is not possible to make a commitment of resources at this time, be assured that attention will be paid to the needs of the 111th Precinct, when that evaluation occurs,” said Kelly in a letter April 22.
Iannece called the commissioner's response “totally inadequate.”
“I'm not surprised,” said Iannece of the burglary spike. “If you don't have enough police officers to not only patrol but deter (burglaries), you're going to have these types of scenarios.”
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
