By Kelsey Durham
The 111th Police Precinct reported this week that it saw a slight increase in the number of crimes reported in 2013 with car thefts figuring prominently in the upturn.
Deputy Inspector Jason Huerta presented the latest crime statistics at the precinct’s community council meeting Tuesday night, announcing that the number of total crimes investigated was up 3 percent in 2013 from the previous year, jumping from 875 to 903. Much of the increase, Huerta said, was in theft-related crimes such as robbery, burglary and grand larceny, a crime he said seems to have become a trend throughout the city.
The 111th Precinct covers Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston and part of Auburndale.
One of the most significant increases has been the number of car thefts in the area, with five stolen vehicles reported in the last four weeks, according to Huerta. Three of those incidents resulted from drivers leaving their vehicles running and doors unlocked and Huerta warned residents to avoid leaving car keys in the ignition of unlocked cars.
The inspector also said the precinct has begun to receive reports of catalytic converters being stolen from underneath vehicles, with two incidents already being investigated since the start of the new year. Huerta said the valuable car part, which is necessary to start any vehicle, is worth anywhere from $200 to $300 if stolen and resold and takes no more than a minute to remove from underneath the car, especially those that sit higher off the ground.
“[The thieves] prefer vehicles they can get under without using a jack,” he said. “Avoiding it is difficult, but just try to park in a well-lit area and be aware of your surroundings, and if you see something suspicious, call us.”
Another increase came in the number of burglaries reported, as nine break-ins have been investigated by the 111th Precinct in the past month, according to Huerta. Most of the houses being targeted lie in the Bayside neighborhoods between Northern Boulevard and the Horace Harding Expressway or between Francis Lewis Boulevard and the Clearview Expressway.
“For whatever reason, that’s a favorite part of our precinct for burglars,” Huerta said. “We have many units concentrating there trying to catch these guys.”
Cellphone robberies have become popular in the area as well, especially near schools, where Huerta said many of the thefts involve youths as both suspects and victims. He said new software for Apple products has made it extremely difficult for thieves to wipe clean stolen iPhones, as it now requires personal passwords, and has led to an increase in the number of other smartphones, such as Samsung Galaxy products, now being sought.
Huerta said arrests have been made in many of the robbery cases recently reported to the 111th, but urged the public to continue to be aware of their surroundings while walking the streets and to try to avoid flashing any electronic devices to strangers.
Luigi Galano, crime prevention officer with the 111th, said although some iPhone users may not want to change the look of their devices by updating to the newest iOS 7 software, the security offered by the platform may help deter potential thefts.
“The upgrade is really worth it, for security reasons,” he said.
Reach reporter Kelsey Durham at 718-260-4573 or by e-mail at kdurham@cnglocal.com.
