Murders, rapes and shootings in the 109th Precinct declined in 2012, while burglaries and grand larcenies went up, officials said.
According to the precinct’s commanding officer, Inspector Brian Maguire, the 109th saw three murders last year — a 50 percent decrease from 2011.
Ezra Black, 31, was allegedly stabbed to death by his fellow Parks Department coworker inside the Al Oerter Recreation Center in Flushing on September 4, 2012, according to criminal charges.
Chinese tourist Hai Yan Yang was rendered brain dead, later succumbing to her injuries, after she was struck on the side of her head by her pocketbook during a violent mugging in Flushing on October 20, 2012.
Another male was shot in the back and died during a homicide, Maguire said, although that investigation is still ongoing. Both alleged perpetrators in the year’s first two murders are incarcerated and awaiting trial.
Rapes went down 47 percent in 2012 with the precinct tallying a total of 10 incidents. Only one of those cases involveda stranger, said Maguire.
Robberies rose 6 percent, with the majority of crime occurring on the streets over Apple products, and grand larcenies skyrocketed to 773 incidents from 695 last year. Burglaries increased by 40 incidents, plaguing every neighborhood within the precinct, Maguire said.
“It’s a problematic issue,” he said. “No area is immune to burglaries.”
There were only two shootings in 2012, down from nine last year, Maguire said. Three people in total were injured.
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