Proactive policing, help from borough−wide squads and communicating effectively with the community: all are reasons behind the 70th Precinct’s 17 percent drop in felony crime so far this year, according to its commanding officer, Dep. Inspector Ralph Monteforte.
“We’re down on all major crimes because the police officers in the precinct are focusing on the right areas at the right times,” said Monteforte.
“The help of the [Patrol Borough Brooklyn South] narcotics squad, the gang division and the detective squad are also definitely playing a big role in the crime reduction,” he added.
The biggest crime reduction in the precinct is in robbery, which is down nearly 29 percent with 177 incidents reported so far this year as compared to 248 at this time last year.
Felony assaults are down about 18 percent with 138 reported incidents so far in 2009 as compared to 168 at this time last year.
Grand larceny is down a little more than 15 percent with 332 reported incidents so far this year, as compared to 392 at this time in 2008.
Burglary is down about 12 percent with 156 reported incidents so far this year as compared to 177 at this time last year.
There have been five reported rapes so far this year as compared to 19 at this time last year, and murder is even with three reported so far this year and three at this time in 2008.
The only crime that remains on the increase is auto theft, which is up 14.5 percent with 95 reported cars stolen so far this year as compared to 83 at this time last year.
The precinct is averaging almost four cars stolen a week, said Monteforte.
Monteforte said police are looking at the types of cars stolen as well as the locations and recoveries, but right now there is no specific area from throughout the precinct or patterns to the thefts.
The precinct has several car theft programs which allow for car stops and is working with many of the local car service companies in the command to cut down on the crime, he said.
Monteforte said another important element to keeping crime down is community relations.
After a recent Ditmas Park break−in in which the perpetrator confronted a teenager who was home at the time, Monteforte set up meetings with the local community to address home break−ins.
Monteforte said the precinct’s crime prevention team is prepared to do surveys of some of the homes in Ditmas Park.
