By Kathianne Boniello
The 111th Police Precinct in Bayside was scheduled to hold its National Night Out Against Crime festivities at the Douglaston Plaza Shopping Center next week, Community Affairs Officer Anthony Lombardi said.
The yearly event is held in precincts across the city to highlight crime prevention efforts. Last year few people turned out for the 111th Precinct's activities at IS 25 in Bayside, and then Capt. Anthony Lubrano blamed the poor turnout on the summer heat.
The precinct covers about 11 square miles of northeast Queens, including the communities of Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, Oakland Gardens, and parts of Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Auburndale and Hollis Hills.
With a steady drop in crime over the past several years, the 111th Precinct has regularly highlighted its crime prevention programs as a way to maintain quality of life.
This year's National Night Out Against Crime was scheduled to be held at the Douglaston Plaza Shopping Center at 61-00 Douglaston Parkway from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The event was slated to include bike registration, VIN etching, and blood pressure screening.
Prizes and coupons from Modell's Sporting Goods will be available for those attending and those who register bicycles with the precinct will get a chance at a free Kid's Meal from Burger King. The Douglaston United Artist movie theater will have $1 move passes available on a first come, first serve basis with the VIN etching program.
VIN etching is a crime prevention program which involves burning a car's Vehicle Identification Number into an automobile's windows, making it difficult to resell the parts if a car is stolen.
