Crime down 10 percent in 109th Precinct

By focusing on downtown Flushing, the 109th Precinct has reduced the number of crimes committed in 2007 as compared to the same period last year by more than 10 percent.
As of Sunday, March 4, 392 crimes have been reported in the Precinct’s area - as compared to 439 by this time in 2006. The largest drops are in the grand larcenies and grand theft auto, which fell by 40 and 19 respectively.
Deputy Inspector Matthew Whelan, the Commanding Officer of the 109th Precinct, attributed the stats to the recent focus on downtown Flushing - bounded by 32nd Avenue to the north, the Long Island Expressway to the south, the Van Wyck Expressway to the west, and Parsons Boulevard to the east.
“We have focused in on this area,” Whelan told the Flushing Chamber of Commerce at their most recent meeting. In particular, Whelan said that the Precinct has deployed eight Lieutenants, four sergeants, and 30 police officers to combat crime in the area.
In addition, two foot-patrol officers are stationed at Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue to deal with the large transportation hub.
Three areas where crime is up so far this year in the 109th as compared to last year are rape (from one to two), felony assault (from 29 to 33), and burglaries (from 89 to 109).
Whelan said that the police offer home surveys to local residents to protect their properties from burglars.
“[Often times] People have burglar alarms but don’t put them on,” Whelan said, describing the typical “window” of burglaries as occurring between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“The burglars drive around in cars, even knock on doors to see if anyone is home,” Whelan said.
Whelan said that the Precinct has also been given authority over four housing developments in the area - the Bland Houses, Latimer Gardens, the Leavitt Houses and Rehab Program (College Point), a one-story 13-unit residence mainly for seniors - that were previously under the watch of the City’s Housing Authority (HA).
“There are narcotics and prostitution at these housing complexes,” Whelan said, explaining that the officers would adjust their schedules as crime patterns in the developments changed.
“Just the uniform presence of two police officers there … will deter criminal activity,” Whelan said.