By Howard Koplowitz
The commanding officer of the 105th Precinct promised the area would see a decrease in crime by the end of the year Ð and he has lived up to that promise, although by a slim margin.The precinct recorded 18 fewer crimes in 2006 compared to 2005 Ð a drop of .81 percent, according to crime statistics compiled by the New York Police Department. There were 2,214 major crimes recorded in 2005, compared to 2,196 in 2006.The 105th is the largest precinct in Queens in terms of geography. It covers almost all of eastern Queens Ð from Glen Oaks in the northeast down along the Nassau border to Rosedale in the southeast portion of the borough.There were nine recorded murders in the 105th precinct in 2006, the same number that were reported in 2005.From 2005 to 2006, there were four fewer recorded rapes in the 105th, according to the statistics. There were 45 reported rapes in 2005, compared to 41 in 2006 Ð about a 9 percent drop.But not all aspects of major crime Ð identified by police as murder, rape, robbery, felonious assault, burglary, grand larceny and car thefts Ð saw decreases.There was about a 32 percent increase in robberies from 2005 to 2006. The 105th recorded 319 robberies in 2005, compared to 423 in 2006. A slight increase in burglaries was also reported.There were 479 burglaries recorded in 2005 and 504 in 2006 Ð about a 5 percent increase.Both grand larceny and car thefts were down from 2005 to 2006, the statistics showed.There were 615 recorded grand larcenies in the 105th in 2005, compared to 548 in 2006 Ð about an 11 percent drop.The 105th reported 478 incidents of stolen cars in 2005 and 424 of those crimes in 2006 Ð a decrease of about 11 percent. Haynes, who previously was the commander of a Brooklyn patrol under the Police Department's Housing Bureau, took control of the 105th from Deputy Inspector Stephen O'Brien in early September. When Haynes arrived, he said the precinct would see a decrease in crime by year's end. The precinct recorded a slight drop in crime compared to 2005 when Haynes began his new position, he said. Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
