QUEENS — Crime in the 102nd Precinct, covering Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven, jumped about 10 percent in the first two months of this year, a trend fueled by cases of domestic violence, cops said.
At a community council meeting earlier this week, Capt. Henry Sautner, who oversees the precinct, said that there has been a significant increase in felony assaults. As of Tuesday, there were 63 cases this year compared to 40 incidents in the same period last year — an increase of more than 50 percent, he said.
“The majority of those are domestic-related,” Sautner said. “It’s all walks of life, all economic, all socio, all ethnic [groups],” he said.
The increase may stem from victims reporting incidents more often, Sautner suggested. In particular, the neighborhood has dozens of nationalities, he said, and in the past victims from certain ethnic groups didn’t feel comfortable reporting domestic violence.
“Now, they realize that crimes of violence are totally unacceptable and they are reporting it more,” he said.
Sautner also noticed an increase in the number of grand larceny incidents. He said in the past they included many identity theft cases, while nowadays there is more car break-ins.
During the most recent 28-day reporting period, which ended on March 10, there were 35 incidents of grand larceny in the 102nd Precinct, compared to 17 incidents during the same period last year, more than double.
The precinct has also recorded three murders this year. Last year during the same period of time there was only one homicide, according to statistics provided by the NYPD.
This year’s cases include the murder of Jose Rubio, 32, a Salvadorian immigrant, who was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Richmond Hill while walking down Jamaica Avenue with a 17-year-old boy.
According to cops, the men were attacked by a group of four or five men. The motive for the attack remains a mystery and no arrests have been made as of Tuesday, Sautner said.
