Crime in 111th Precinct Down 5.2 Percent in 2010: Leyson

Crime is down 5.2 percent in the this year with drops in the seven major crime categories, but the precinct is still combating a rise in burglaries across northeast Queens, Capt. Ron Leyson said.

The largest drop in any category was a 20 percent dip in the number of auto theft incidents in Douglaston, Little Neck and Bayside, Leyson said.  The number of grand larceny incidents also fell 8.5 percent.

"Even though grand larceny is really hard to combat, we are doing really well," Leyson told members of the 111th Precinct Community Council at a meeting last night. "But we are still struggling with car break-ins."

The captain said the biggest challenge for the precinct this fall has been an increase in the number of burglaries, which have been up 4.2 percent.

"Historically, burglaries are a problem in the 111th," he said. "In the last couple of months, we have been struggling."

He said police are still investigating a string of recent incidents in northeast Queens and that the thieves are likely an organized crew.

But he said residents could help to prevent burglars from breaking into their cars.

"It's frustrating that people don't take and don't use common sense," he said. "When you leave your laptop in your backseat or leave your purse on the floor of your car, you are inviting criminals to rob you. It's a crime of opportunity. There are people out there waiting to prey on you."

There have been six rapes but no murders in the precinct this year, according to crime statistics.

The number of felony assaults is up from 35 incidents last year to 46 incidents this year. But Leyson said 10 of those assaults were on his own officers, who were struck by a vehicle while a suspect was attempting to flee a crime.

The number of robberies in the precinct are down this year despite recent incidents during which 7-Eleven stores were , Leyson said.

"It's unusual that our are getting robbed at gunpoint late at night," he said.

The captain awarded Cop of the Month to officers Brian Corso and Billy Tsiorvas after they busted two men attempting to break into a car on 216th Street in Bayside on Nov. 12.

The men were allegedly found to be in possession of items, including credit cards, that had been stolen from cars in Queens as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties, Leyson said.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown dropped by the council's meeting. He told the group that the precinct, which historically has low numbers of violent crimes, is bucking a borough-wide trend.

"Homicides are up a little this year, but not in the 111th," the DA said.