By Howard Koplowitz
The 105th Precinct reported reductions in six of the seven major crime categories 2008 from the previous year’s levels, with murders recording the largest drop, according to crime statistics compiled by the Police Department.
Overall, crime was down more than 8 percent in the 105th, which stretches along the Nassau border from Glen Oaks to Queens Village to Laurelton and Rosedale. Major crimes includes murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, grand larceny and car thefts by the NYPD.
There were 1,949 major crime incidents in the precinct in 2008, down from 2,119 in 2007.
There were eight murders in the 105th as of Dec. 21, the latest period for which statistics are available, compared to 10 for the same period in 2007.
The 20 percent decrease in murders represented the largest reduction in major crime categories for the 105th. That was followed by the 16.1 percent drop in burglaries from 2007−08.
There were 457 burglaries in 2008, compared to 545 in 2007.
Double−digit drops were also recorded in rapes and assaults. The precinct had a 13.5 percent decline in rapes. There were 32 reported rapes in the 105th in 2008 and 37 in 2007. Assaults were down 12.5 percent. There were 238 assaults in 2008 and 272 in 2007.
Grand larcenies represented the fifth−largest drop for the 105th at 8.9 percent. There were 479 grand larcenies in 2008 and 525 in 2007.
Robberies recorded a slight decline between 2008 and 2007 at 2 percent. There were eight fewer robberies — 390 — in 2008 than there were in 2007.
Car thefts were the only crime on the rise in the 105th Precinct. There were 345 reports of stolen cars in the precinct in 2008, compared to 332 in 2007 — a 3.9 percent increase.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e−mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718−229−0300, Ext. 173.
