Local Police Still Working To Stem Tide Of Larcenies In Precinct

With crime statistics a huge point of contention across the city, every precinct in the five boroughs is working hard to keep their numbers down.

According to the most recent COMPSTAT statistics, the in Forest Hills and Rego Park has seen its fair share of recent increases as well.

The biggest increase year-over-year by far has been reported rapes in the precinct. So far in 2011, there have been 10 incidents of rape, compared to just three in 2010.

At a recent Forest Hills Community and Civic organization, Community Affairs Oficer Thomas Rang told residents

In the most recent week, there were also five burglaries, a jump over the just two that occurred during the same week in 2010. Overall for the month, however, there was one less burglary than last year.

The largest overall crime increase by sheer number has taken place among grand larcenies in the district — which include theft of a purse or wallet that contains credit cards. There have been 372 reported incidents of grand larceny in the precinct so far this year, a 24 percent increase over the same period in 2010. The precinct has already instituted several programs to fight grand larceny, and is likely to step up enforcement as the holidays approach.

Petit larceny has also seen a big increase this year, with 844 committed so far, compared to 757 through this time last year.

Through the year so far, felonious assaults, burglaries and robberies have remained fairly consistent, with an almost eight percent reduction in robberies year-over-year.

For more information, head to the 112 Precinct Community Council meeting at the Precinct Command Center on Wednesday night.