By Brendan Browne
In the first six months of 2002, major crimes in the 112th Police Precinct dropped by more than 12 percent from the same period a year ago, keeping Forest Hills and Rego Park among the safest communities in Queens.
Five of the seven categories of major crime experienced a drop-off, rape was unchanged, and auto theft rose by just over 3 percent, the latest statistics compiled by the New York Police Department showed.
Murder, robbery, felony assault, burglary, and auto thefts declined, and the incidents in all categories were lower than the average for precincts included in Queens Patrol Borough North.
According to police statistics, the biggest drops in Forest Hills and Rego Park were in robbery, which fell by more than 28 percent, and felony assault, which was down more than 26 percent. Auto thefts decreased by about 22 percent, burglary by nearly 8 percent, and there were no murders reported, statistics showed.
Overall there were 823 major crimes reported in the 112th Precinct, which is almost 36 percent lower than the average number of major crimes in the vicinities of police precincts in Queens Patrol Borough North, police reported.
Lt. Joseph Davids of the 112th Precinct credited the downturn in crime to intense police involvement in the community, adding that Capt. Charles Stravalle, who has led the precinct for nearly a year, has cracked down on petty crime and listened to citizen concerns.
Stravalle “is very hands-on. He’s very interested in quality-of-life issues and when you take care of the little things, the big things take care of themselves,” said Davids. “It’s a very safe area.”
Heidi Chain, president of the 112th Precinct Community Council, said the police at the 112th have also been very active in listening to residential and business concerns, quickly responding to complaints and offering seminars in crime awareness and prevention.
The police in the 112th Precinct have shown “a tremendous amount of effort and tremendous amount of caring. They think to be responsive,” said Chain.
For example, when there was a string of burglaries on Fitchett Street in Rego Park, the police increased patrols in the area and notified neighbors of the problem with fliers, Chain said.
As in most areas in the city, crime in Forest Hills and Rego Park has been falling rapidly since 1993. Compared to the first six months of that year, major crime in the 112th Precinct has plummeted by nearly 75, according to police statistics.
Reach reporter Brendan Browne by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or by phone at 229-0300, Ext. 155.
