But the number of rapes has jumped in the 109th Precinct for the first half of the…
By Alexander Dworkowitz
An influx of new police officers in the 109th Precinct has helped reduce the rates of burglary and car theft, the two crimes that have plagued the area in recent years.
But the number of rapes has jumped in the 109th Precinct for the first half of the year from year-earlier levels, following a trend across all of northern Queens.
The precinct, which covers Flushing, Whitestone, College Point and Bay Terrace, has also seen an increase in grand larcenies, many of which are pickpocketing crimes in downtown Flushing.
The precinct’s murder rate was unchanged compared to last year, assaults were up 3.6 percent, and robberies increased 10.9 percent, according to police statistics.
Overall, crime dropped by 11.5 percent in the 109th Precinct from Jan. 1 to June 29 from the first half of 2002.
Last year the 109th Precinct had more burglaries than any other precinct in the city. But with the introduction of Operation Impact at the beginning of the year, the 109th was given 45 rookies, 26 of whom are still with the precinct, and the burglary rate declined 33.7 percent compared to last year.
Wanda Beck Antosh, president of the 109th’s community council, attributed the drop in burglaries to the precinct’s efforts to enroll residents as “blockwatchers,” who are assigned a number and are told to call police at the first sign of trouble on their block.
“I think [the police] are getting a lot of help from neighborhoods as far as blockwatchers are concerned,” Antosh said. “It’s such an easy thing to do to be a blockwatcher. People are more and more realizing it now — that to be a nosy neighbor is a good idea.”
Antosh noted a blockwatcher’s phone call recently led to an arrest of a suspected burglar in the area of Bowne Park.
Auto thefts also dropped off significantly, falling 18.1 percent as compared to the first six months of last year.
Car thefts declined throughout most of Queens, decreasing by 19.6 percent in the precincts that make up Patrol Borough Queens North and 5.1 percent in the precincts of Patrol Borough Queens South.
Antosh speculated that the lower rate was in part due to a larger trend of criminals finding drug deals more profitable than stealing cars.
“I think everybody has a car with the interests rates so low,” she said.
Rapes, however, have increased significantly this year. Eleven rapes were reported in the 109th Precinct through June vs. six during the same period last year for an increase of 83.3 percent.
In Patrol Borough Queens North, rapes were up 46.4 percent, while in Patrol Borough Queens South there was less than a 1 percent increase.
Antosh said the cause of the rise in rapes was unclear.
“I don’t know whether it’s the sign of the times or frustration of people,” she said. “I don’t know. It seems all of the sudden it just blossomed.”
Grand larcenies were up 18.1 percent for the first half of the year.
At the end of May, police and politicians introduced an auxiliary police booth at the corner of Main Street and 41st Avenue to help combat grand larcenies.
In particular, it was hoped the booth would act as a deterrent to pickpocketing in the busy area.
Whether or not the booth has made an impact was still unclear. Grand larcenies dropped in the month of June compared to the first five months of the year but only slightly.
Antosh, however, believed the booth was working.
“With the visible booth they have, that has helped,” she said. “It’s visual and it does deter.”
Reach reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300 Ext. 141.
