Photo: QueensPost
June 26, 2013 By Christian Murray
Sunnyside, Queens: The crime rate jumped in Sunnyside/Woodside and Long Island City in June, due in part to an increase in the number of burglaries.
Captain Brian Hennessy, the commanding officer for Police Precinct 108, said that the number of reported crimes rose 25% for the 28 days ending June 23, compared to the same 28-day period in 2012.
The number of reported burglaries increased from 13 to 20. Four of those burglaries took place within a two block radius in Sunnyside—namely 41st Street and 43rd Avenue, as well as 42nd Street, between 43rd Avenue and Queens Blvd.
The number of grand larcenies jumped from 29 to 35 over the period, with Hennessy attributing the increase to identity theft — which is typically used to access a person’s bank account.
There was one murder in the past 28 days, which involved the much-publicized incident when a woman was found dead in the trunk of her car near 61st Street and Queens Blvd late last month.
Hennessy, who spoke at the monthly precinct meeting at the Sunnyside Community Services Center last night, said that there was nothing new to report on that case and that the investigation is ongoing.
The police arrested a homeless man under the 40th Street subway line—after he refused to move for musicians who were part of the Make Music New York event last Friday. When the police spoke to him, they discovered he had an outstanding warrant.
Meanwhile, the police said they could do little about an African-American homeless man who panhandles on Queens Blvd. The police said that the man has refused the help of homeless services and doesn’t have any outstanding warrants.
One woman complained about homeless people and troublesome teenagers at the park adjacent to the 52nd Street subway station. “There are bums there, a lot of kids there, many of whom are rolling joints…and garbage dumping that is bringing back the rats.”
Hennessy said he would go the park personally and check it out. He said he would also send the precinct’s special conditions team.
Meanwhile, the police said there is nothing new to report on the Lou Rispoli murder case, nor the police’s internal investigation as to how the precinct handled the investigation
