By Ivan Pereira
The borough’s largest police station house has had a rough year dealing with violent crimes, but the 105th Precinct has made progress in some areas, police statistics show.
Overall crimes at the southeast Queens precinct were down 1.05 percent with 1,832 reported crimes in 2010 compared to 1,813 during the same period last year, according to the latest Police Department statistics through Dec. 19.
The precinct covers the second largest area in all of the city, including the neighborhoods of Queens Village, Cambria Heights, Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Bellerose, Glen Oaks, New Hyde Park and Floral Park.
Like the other precincts in southeast Queens, the 105th has had to deal with a surge in murders over the last 12 months.
There were 15 reported homicides in 2010, a 66.7 percent increase from the nine murders that occurred last year, the statistics show.
Many of those homicides were shootings and several have remained unsolved, according to the police. Investigators and elected officials say an increased gang presence in southeast Queens is behind the increase in killings.
Felony assault was also on the rise in the precinct this year, with 266 reported incidents in 2010 compared to 230 assaults last year, a 15.7 percent increase, according to the NYPD.
Auto thefts increased 10.6 percent over the last 12 months to 376 incidents this year from 340 last year, the statistics showed.
The number of robberies was also slightly higher this year with 334 reported incidents in 2010 compared to 330 last year, an increase of 1.2 percent, the NYPD said.
But not all crime categories saw stepped-up activity, the statistics showed.
Rape decreased 43.8 percent with 18 reported incidents in 2010 compared to 32 last year, according to the NYPD.
The number of burglaries went down from 418 incidents last year to 387 crimes in 2010, a 7.4 percent drop, statistics showed.
Grand larceny also recorded a small decline in 2010 with 436 reported incidents this year compared to 454 incidents last year, a change of 4 percent, according to the statistics.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
