By Phil Corso
Crime has risen slightly in the 111th Precinct, according to police statistics, with the biggest recorded increases in robberies and misdemeanor assaults out of the seven major categories.
According to Commanding Officer Jason Huerta, the current 28-day period ending May 20 showed an uptick of 5 percent in overall crime with 62 recorded incidents as opposed to 59 in the same period last year. Robberies rose to 11 total compared to six last year and misdemeanor assaults more than doubled to 19 compared to eight last year.
No murders were reported by the May 20 end date, according to statistics, but officers were investigating an alleged murder-suicide attempt in Bayside May 23.
The robberies, the captain said, may be related to youth-on-youth crimes.
“We have had several incidents where students wearing high-priced headphones and cell phones have been robbed by other students,” Huerta said. “We encourage parents to adhere to the school’s policies regarding cellular phones and electronics or at the very least instruct children on the dangers of using these expensive devices in public.”
Huerta said the 111th Precinct, which covers Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston and parts of Auburndale, regularly works with area school officials and the city Department of Education’s School Safety Division to keep students safe.
“Student safety is a top priority for the 111th Precinct,” Huerta said. “We patrol all of the major student corridors to ensure that children make it safely to and from school.”
Police statistics also showed a slight increase in grand larcenies with 36 this year compared to last year’s 31 and a rise in felony assaults to five compared from the year-ago figure of three.
According to police statistics, burglaries dropped from 14 to six, but were still relevant to what Huerta described as a recent rash of automobile break-ins.
“People continue to leave credit cards, wallets, purses, computers, currency and other valuable items in vehicles,” Huerta said. “We ask that residents safeguard property and not afford criminals easy opportunities.”
Automobile break-ins have been at the forefront of the 111th Precinct’s campaign for much of Huerta’s time as commanding officer since his appointment in January.
For more detailed updates on crime statistics, residents are invited to attend the 111th Precinct Community Council meetings on the first Tuesday of every month, except for July and August, at 7:30 p.m.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
