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Bushwick Leads NYC in Burglaries in 2015, NYPD Says

By Serena Dai | February 19, 2015 2:42pm
 During a community council meeting on Tuesday night, Captain Maximo Tolentino, the commanding officer of the 84th Precinct, told those in attendance that 48 out of the 141 burglaries that took place in 2012 happened when residents left their doors unlocked.
During a community council meeting on Tuesday night, Captain Maximo Tolentino, the commanding officer of the 84th Precinct, told those in attendance that 48 out of the 141 burglaries that took place in 2012 happened when residents left their doors unlocked.
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Flickr/Scott Beale

BUSHWICK — Bushwick leads the city in burglaries, with more half the incidents last month stemming from thieves entering homes through unlocked doors and windows, police said. 

The 83rd Precinct had 38 burglaries in the 28-day period ending Feb. 8, down by 7.3 percent from the year before but still more than any other precinct in the city, NYPD data shows.

Of the 32 residential burglaries in January, 17 did not involve the use of force to enter apartments, Deputy Inspector Maximo Tolentino, commanding officer of the 83rd Precinct, told residents Wednesday.

Laptops, electronics and cash were among the most commonly stolen items, he said.

For the year to date, Bushwick has seen 56 burglaries total, just one fewer than during the same period in 2015 and more than any other precinct across the five boroughs, according to police statistics.

By comparison, the 90th Precinct, which encompasses South and East Williamsburg, has had 38 burglaries for the year to date.

Tolentino told locals that he's aware burglaries are a problem that needs to be addressed.

"That’s something Bushwick should not be proud of," he said.

"Ground zero" for the burglaries spans from Irving Avenue to Wilson Avenue between Himrod Street and Flushing Avenue, Tolentino noted.

Burglaries were a problem for Bushwick in 2014, jumping 24 percent between 2013 and 2014, police said. It was the only major crime category to see an increase in the neighborhood last year.

Despite high burglary numbers, Toleninto said he was "extremely happy" with crime trends in the neighborhood, especially robberies.

Major crimes this year through Feb. 8 were down about 20 percent, with 175 in 2015 versus 220 in 2014, data shows.

Robberies declined about 40 percent, with 29 this year versus 48 last year. Police also made 11 arrests on robberies in the last month, Tolentino said.

Part of the decline in robberies has to do with weather, but he also credited "very good deployment" for the decrease.

Other crimes, including grand larceny, felony assault and auto theft, decreased as well.

Of the major crime categories, only rapes went up — from one last year to three this year. Most of the suspects were acquaintances of the victims, Tolentino said.

"We’re very happy with the reduction for the 28-day period," Tolentino added.