By Michelle Han
Crime declined in nearly every major crime category in the 102nd Precinct during the first six months of 2000 from a year earlier, continuing a long-term, overall decline in crime in the precinct, Police Department figures show.
The overall crime rate for the 102nd Precinct, which includes Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Kew Gardens and parts of Ozone Park, fell 13.3 percent in 2000 through July 2, according to NYPD statistics.
There were 1,464 incidents reported so far this year, compared to 1,688 incidents in the same period of 1999. Over the past two years, crime in the precinct has fallen 28.2 percent; over the last seven years, the decline in crime was 58.1 percent.
In the most violent crimes, there was one homicide this year compared to two last year and the number of rapes stood even at 15 for both years. Combined, both murders and rapes constituted less than 2 percent of overall crime in the precinct.
Auto thefts, grand larceny complaints, and burglaries made up the majority of the major crimes in the 102nd Precinct. Combined, they amounted for 68 percent of all incidents so far this year.
Robberies made up 19 percent and felonious assaults made up 12 percent of crime in the 102nd Precinct.
The most dramatic reduction in crime during the first six months of 2000 has been in burglaries, which fell 28.6 percent. There were 305 burglary complaints this year compared to 427 during the same period in 1999.
Grand larceny complaints fell by 18.4 percent this year, with 226 complaints in 2000 compared to 277 last year. Robberies declined 9.7 percent, with 278 incidents in 2000 compared to 308 for the same period last year.
Part of that category was a pattern of robberies in April, in which a man pointed a gun at mothers and their young children in subway or train stations and demanded jewelry or money. One of the incidents took place at the 121st Street subway station in Richmond Hill. A 31-year-old St. Albans man was arrested and charged with committing the robbery a week later.
There were 178 complaints of felony assault in 2000, one fewer than last year
