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Rape Reports are Up in Some Manhattan Neighborhoods, Police Statistics Show

By DNAinfo Staff on December 9, 2009 6:32am  | Updated on December 10, 2009 11:38am

By Mariel S. Clark, Nicole Bode and Jason Tucker

DNAinfo staff

MANHATTAN — Reports of rapes have shot up in some Manhattan neighborhoods, despite a steady decrease in overall crime across the borough, NYPD statistics reveal.

The troubling trend shows that incidents of rapes in some precincts have jumped as much as 60 percent compared to the same time last year.

In the East Village, the only precinct in the borough to have seen an increase in overall crime this year, rapes jumped 50 percent — from 8 this time last year to 12 to date this year.

The neighboring West Village saw rape reports leap 60 percent, from 5 in 2008 to 8 so far this year.

Citywide, reported rapes are down 9.4 percent and the number of reported attacks in Manhattan is overall less than last year.

In Central Harlem, four rapes were reported in a single week, more than some precincts reported all year. The crime statistics were gathered by the NYPD from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6.

The uptick in reported attacks come after a string of high-profile rapes across the borough.

Police issued repeated warnings to women in upper Manhattan before they arrested accused serial rapist Vincent Heyward, who allegedly assaulted five women between August and September.

Authorities say DNA evidence linked Heyward, 21, to the attacks in Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, and Chinatown. He has denied the charges.

In Chelsea, a nightclub bouncer was arrested on charges he raped a clubgoer in the women's bathroom. Hunter Dupree, 33, allegedly struck while working as a guard at Duvet on Oct. 25. The club has since been shut down by the State Liquor Authority.  

The NYPD did not respond to requests for comment.