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Car thefts and burglaries are up in the 106th Precinct.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Suicides and many felony crimes are on the rise in Queens since the borough became the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis.
Since March 15, there have been 16 suicides in The World’s Borough, according to a New York Daily News story which also pointed out that there were 17 total suicides in Queens from Jan. 1 through April 29, 2019, just one more than reported in the past six weeks.
“Unfortunately, our community has seen an increase in domestic violence incidents, suicides, and commercial burglaries,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said on Friday. “Now, more than ever, it is important for us to check in with our family, friends, and neighbors.”
In the 106th Precinct, over the past four weeks there has been a 12-percent dip in overall crime, compared to the same four-week period last year, according to the latest available City Police Department statistics. However, in those four weeks, car thefts are up 300 percent (16 in 2020; four in 2019) and burglaries are up 150 percent (15 in 2020; six in 2019).
In the 102nd Precinct, overall crime has skyrocketed by 62 percent over the last four weeks. Car thefts are up 267 percent (11 in 2020; three in 2019), burglaries are up 180 percent (14 in 2020; five in 2019), and grand larcenies are up 82 percent (20 in 2020; 11 in 2019).
