By Stephen Witt
Felony crime in the 70th Precinct has fallen slightly thus far this year, according to the latest official crime statistics. Of the major crime categories – murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and auto theft – there were a total of 490 crimes thus far in 2008 as compared to 502 at this time last year for a 2.4 percent reduction. “We’re kind of flat. We’re going up against our toughest numbers ever in the 70th precinct from last year and we’re making those numbers. So we’re viewing it as a success,” said Inspector Tom Harris, commanding officer of the 70th Precinct. Among the crimes showing an increase is robbery, which is up about 25 percent for the year with 113 reporter incidents thus far this year as compared to 90 at this time in 2007. Harris noted that robbery was up even more last month, and was now beginning to come down in numbers. “We’re not really spiking in anything. The robberies have come down from the beginning (of the year), but that’s due to the hard work of the men and women out there,” he said. Also going up is auto theft, which has risen about 18 percent with 40 reported incidents thus far in 2008 as compared to 34 at this time last year. Plummeting down, however, is burglary, which has fallen nearly 30 percent with 80 reported incidents thus far this year as compared to 114 at this time in 2007. Felony assault has fallen nearly 9 percent with 83 incidents reported thus far in 2008 as compared to 91 at this time last year. There have been 12 reported rapes thus far this year as compared to 10 at this time last year; and reported grand larcenies are flat with 162 incidents thus far in 2008 as compared to 163 at this time last year. There have been no reported murders thus far this year in the precinct. “We’re constantly looking at different emerging trends and deploying our officers differently in order to address those crimes, and where they happen, and crime is going down,” said Harris.
