Overall crime in the 106th Precinct appears to be trending downward, but this is no time to rest on laurels, its commanding officer said last week.
Dep. Inspector Jeffrey Schiff, who has been overseeing the south central Queens command since September, 2013, indicated that compared to this review period last year—the final week of the previous year and the first week of the new one—the 106th is “down about a hundred crimes.” And according to Capt. Carlos Fernandez, commanding officer of Transit District 23, all is relatively quiet on the subway front in 2015.
However, as Schiff explained to the precinct Community Council last Wednesday evening at the 101st Street stationhouse, his officers and supervisors are working on issues still impacting Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park and Lindenwood.
“It’s a team effort—but I don’t want to be a victim of our own success,” Schiff said. “Crime may be down, but there’s a lot more that needs to be done.”
Dep. Inspector Jeffrey Schiff said that while the overall crime stats for the 106th Precinct are positive, there is still room for improvement.
Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza
One of the areas on which Schiff and Co. are centering efforts is robbery, as the commander noted that there seems to be signs of a pattern of armed holdups “up and down Liberty [Avenue].”
“But we’re making strides on robberies, focusing on things like deployment,” Schiff said.
To help keep shooting incidents down, Schiff said that his team has been leaning on bar and club staff for assistance.
“They’re increasing security, and we’re thrilled about that,” he said. “[Owners] are working with the community, they’re working with the 106th, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Automobile crimes and identity theft continue to create havoc in the precinct, Schiff reported. Recently, late-model Honda, Nissan, Mercedes and Toyota vehicles are being targeted for their rims. Gary Maher, the command’s crime prevention officer, recommended that wheel locks, a motion-sensor device, or an alarm with a mercury or tilt switch be installed. Additionally, Maher said, park your car in a well-lit area and avoid isolated patches of the neighborhood. Also, if you have a driveway, consider the installation of a video surveillance camera.
Schiff called ID theft “a citywide problem” that requires “a bigger, more organized fight” from law enforcement, and heightened vigilance on the part of the citizenry.
“It’s such an insidious type of crime,” Schiff said.
Later in the meeting, Schiff noted that there were several factors that have contributed to what he characterized as a “modest” drop in crime in the 106th, but one stood out.
“The people are calling up, they’re seeing something and saying something,” Schiff related. “We need that to continue—to increase, even.”
By Michael V. Cusenza
