QUEENS — About 40 crimes improperly classified as misdemeanors by the 112th Precinct last year were upped to felonies after an internal investigation, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.
The precinct initially reported 890 serious crimes in 2012, compared to 927 in 2011, a 4 percent drop, according to the Daily News.
Were the additional crimes classified as felonies, there would have been a 1 percent increase during 2012.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, asked about the issue Tuesday, said the cases were reclassified.
"I believe what happened there was…these were ATM thefts. There was identity theft involved. The amount of money stolen was under a $1,000 – that's the cutoff [for a] misdemeanor versus felony," Kelly said.
"However, subsequent examination by the new commander determined that the cards that were used were forged, which makes it a felony. That's why the changes took place."
Capt. Thomas Conforti, who took over as the precinct’s commanding officer last September, was not available for comment.
