Despite a few problem areas, felony crime continues to go down within the confines of the 88th Precinct.
Felony assaults are leading this crime reduction, having plummeted over 33 percent with 46 such crimes reported thus far this year as compared to 69 at this time in 2007.
Reported grand larcenies are down nearly 12 percent for the year with 173 reported thus far in 2008 as compared to 196 at this time last year.
On the other side, robbery is up over 14 percent with 88 reported incidents thus far this year as compared to 77 at this time in 2007.
Dep. Inspector Philip Sferrazza, commanding officer of the 88th precinct, said that while robberies are spiking a little bit, arrests for robbery are also up 26 percent.
A good number of the robberies are youth on youth crime, he said.
Burglaries are about even with last year with 50 reported incidents thus far in 2008 versus 49 at this time last year.
Auto theft is exactly even with 39 reported incidents thus far this year and 39 at this time last year.
There has been one reported murder and four reported rapes thus far this year.
Sferrazza said shootings are also down for the year with 5 reported so far in 2008 as compared to 11 at this time last year.
Sferrazza said with summer around the corner the precinct will adjust their strategy and put more cops out late at night as school is out and more people are expected to take advantage of the warm weather.
Overall, the precinct has had had 401 reported felony crimes for the year, making it one of the safest precincts in Brooklyn, but there have been a few trouble spots.
Among these spots are around Grand and Putnam Avenues, and Classen and Lafayette avenues, which border the 79th Precinct.
City Councilmember Letitia James, who recently held a press conference highlighting the need for a more increased police presence, said the precinct has only four patrol cars and four officers assigned to the Atlantic Mall, and is not given the necessary resources to better patrol the neighborhood, said James.
“They [88th Precinct] have done wonderful, but they are handicapped like having one arm tied behind their backs,” she said.
James urged local residents to write NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly and complain that more manpower and other resources are needed in the precinct.
