By Kenneth Christensen
There was little change in most major crime categories in 2011 in Hunts Point and Longwood compared with the previous year, according to the NYPD.
Thefts of electronic devices and gold jewelry continued to plague residents locally. Two November incidents highlighted the problem.
In one, four teenage boys approached a 16-year-old walking to Metropolitan High School on Reverend James A. Polite Avenue, minutes before the start of school. One pulled out a handgun, while another snatched the victim’s cell phone from his hand.
Around the same time, a teen approached a 19-year-old woman a few blocks away on Home Street. He snatched the gold chain from her neck, hopped into a white car and drove away.
Some adults trying to keep the neighborhood safe say youth-on-youth crime is increasingly common, and expressed concern that young people are turning to violent crime more frequently because there aren’t enough incentives to keep them out of trouble.
“The ones that are doing it are younger because the ones who are recruiting know the youngsters will get a smack on the wrist,” said Aida Haddock, the 41st precinct’s community affairs officer.
“It’s getting younger and younger,” said Rosa Burgos, president of the precinct’s community council. “We’re not giving them anything that’s constructive to do. Our adults need to be a little more vigilant.”
New, less centralized gangs with younger members, such as the Young Bosses, have become a concern, said Philip Rivera, the precinct’s commanding officer.
“We used to focus on the Bloods and the Crips, but the old hierarchy with a strong delineated leadership doesn’t have control over younger groups,” he said.
Electronic gadgets continue to motivate many thieves, police say. Of the 39 robberies reported in November, for example, electronic devices accounted for nearly half. Cellphones and music players are the devices most frequently reported stolen.
“Don’t use that phone if you don’t have to,” Rivera told residents at the precinct’s Community Council meeting in December, adding that many robberies occur near subway stations.
Eight robberies took place in July near the Prospect Ave. subway stop at the corner of Prospect and Longwood Avenues, all during morning rush hour. The trend stopped abruptly when police caught a suspect.
In August, the 36 robberies reported nearly doubled the number from August, 2010. There was a slight overall increase in robberies for the year, from 283 to 299.
The high price of gold motivated more thieves to steal jewelry worn by unwitting victims, police say. Women are most commonly the victims of chain-snatchers.
Overall, 1,342 crimes were reported in Hunts Point and Longwood in 2011 from the seven categories police pay closest attention to, compared with 1,277 in 2010. The categories are auto theft, grand larceny, burglary, felony assault, robbery, rape and murder.
Felony assaults rose eight percent, from 398 to 431, a rate of increase similar to the citywide rate. Police point out that that number includes assaults that happen on Riker’s Island, which inflates Hunts Point’s actual assault numbers.
The number of suspects arrested for felony assault also rose in 2011, from 366 to 401.
In all, the 41st Precinct reported 8,020 arrests last year, an increase of over 10 percent from 2010. There were 84 burglary arrests, a 29 percent jump from last year, even though the number of reported burglaries decreased by over three percent to 204 for the year.
While most of the major crime numbers held steady from last year, the number of car thefts reported rose 16 percent, compared with a ten percent rise citywide. Ninety-three vehicles were reported stolen in 2011, up from 80 in 2010.
The number of reported rapes dropped from 21 to 18, compared with a slight increase citywide.
Five homicides were committed in Hunts Point and Longwood, the same number as in 2010. Only one of this year’s five suspected killers has been arrested.
In the most recent killing, 33-year-old Monique Rodriguez was the victim of stray gunfire at Club Heat at 405 Hunts Point Ave. in December. Police say a fight between two men spilled onto the street around 3 a.m. on Dec.11. The men exchanged gunfire, felling Rodriguez, who friends say was attending a party inside the club.
Altogether, the 41st Precinct responded to 27 reports of shootings, one more than in 2010. However, the number of people shot increased 34 percent, from 29 to 39, due to the number of incidents with multiple victims in 2011.
And here’s something to think about: While one major crime is reported for every 84 residents of New York City, that number is more sobering in Hunts Point and Longwood, where about one person for every 56 residents was a victim of a major crime.