The surge is working!
After a crime wave swept through the typically serene streets of Bay Ridge, an increased police presence has cut burglaries by more than 100 percent, to five last week from 12 the week before.
Deputy Inspector Eric Rodriguez, commanding officer of Bay Ridge’s 68th Precinct championed the surge.
“It’s working very well,” Rodriguez said. “We made an arrest last night for someone breaking into a restaurant on Third Avenue. We’ve also made a couple of arrests on some of the other burglaries that have happened.”
This week’s downtick has convinced state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge) that the tide has turned on the spate of rear-window break-ins between 65th and 86th streets and Fourth and Seventh avenues.
“Talk to the people walking on the streets,” said Golden, a former cop. “They notice the police presence and they feel safer. They feel like their old community is back.”
Many residents remain unconvinced.
“Crime went down for one week — so what?” said 73rd Street resident Janice Shiavo “There have been break-ins all over and kids are still congregating on the corners. I don’t feel any safer.”
