OVERALL CRIME DOWN 2.5 PERCENT THIS YEAR
Crime in New York City went down 2.5 percent — nearly 2,500 fewer crimes — to date in 2015, according to the New York City Police Department’s latest numbers.
According to the department’s statistics, shootings were down 2.8 percent, or 30 incidents, for the year to date. In the month of November alone, the police department reported there was a 10 percent reduction, or nine less shooting incidents.
Similarly, assault numbers were down 2.4 percent, with 39 fewer incidents, and the burglary count dropped 3.6 percent, or 48 incidents less.
Also in November, the department reported that transit crime was down 21 percent, or 43 less crimes systemwide, and housing crime saw a slight drop of 1.6 percent.
“We are proud that we are pushing crime even lower, despite our record low last year in murder,” said Commissioner William J. Bratton.
Despite the drop in overall crimes, grand larceny numbers for the year jumped up 6.6 percent, or by 235 crimes. Also, rape numbers in November jumped 15 percent, while the month’s robbery incidents also increased by 3.7 percent.
The crime statistics released were still preliminary, according to the department, and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.
ROBBERY: TAXI TROUBLES (19TH PRECINCT)
On November 29, two men worked in tandem to rob the driver of a yellow taxi at 4 a.m., police said. In front of 25 East 78th Street, the two suspects double-backed after initially walking past the taxi, according to police. Approaching the yellow taxi, one suspect, described as a 25-year-old black male, 5’7”, 140 pounds, brandished a gun as the other suspect, described only as an adult black male, kept watch down the block, police said. The two made off with the taxi driver’s $160 but no injuries were reported, police said.
ROBBERY: BANK ROBBER BLUNDER (28TH PRECINCT)
Police are on the lookout for a 25-to-35-year-old dark-skinned male suspect weighing 250 pounds who attempted to rob a Capital One Bank on November 28 at around 11:30 a.m. According to police, the suspect entered the bank at 301 West 125th Street and demanded money from a teller.
While making gestures suggestive of a weapon in his coat, the suspect demanded money in the form of $100 and $50 bills, police said. The suspect never displayed a weapon, despite the gestures, and eventually took off after the bank teller said she didn’t have those denominations, according to police.
ROBBERY: PARK AVE BANKS HIT TWICE (MIDTOWN SOUTH PRECINCT)
Police said a suspect is wanted for two Park Avenue bank robberies on November 17 and November 20. According to police, a male suspect attempted to rob Valley National Bank at 100 Park Avenue at around 9 a.m. on November 17. Despite being threatened by a gun, the teller didn’t comply with the request and the suspect fled empty handed.
In a second incident, the suspect tried Chase Bank at 2 Park Avenue South on November 20 at around noon. With the same technique of threatening the teller, the suspect made off with an undetermined amount of money.
The suspect is described as a black male, 5’7” and weighing 140 pounds.
In both cases, police said there were no reported injuries. However, the NYPD-FBI Joint Violent Crimes Task Force is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that would help put the suspect behind bars.
LOCAL POLICE CONTACTS:
Midtown North Precinct
306 West 54th Street
212-767-8400
Midtown South Precinct
357 West 35th Street
212-239-9811
17th Precinct
167 East 51st Street
212-826-3211
19th Precinct
153 East 67th Street
212-452-0600
20th Precinct
120 West 82nd Street
212-580-6411
23rd Precinct
162 East 102nd Street
212-860-6411
24th Precinct
151 West 100th Street
212-678-1811
26th Precinct
520 West 126th Street
212-678-1311
Central Park Precinct
86th Street and Transverse Road
212-570-4820
