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MAP: Fort Greene's Top 5 Crime Hot Spots

By Janet Upadhye | September 11, 2014 11:40am
 DNAinfo New York rounded up the five spots that have seen the most crime this year in Fort Greene.
DNAinfo New York rounded up the five spots that have seen the most crime this year in Fort Greene.
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Flickr/Alejandro De La Cruz

FORT GREENE — More than 600 major crimes occurred in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill in the first seven months of this year — and more than 221 of them took place in five "crime hot spots," police said.

The New York City Housing Authority's Ingersoll and Walt Whitman Houses, Flatbush Avenue between DeKalb Avenue and Fulton Street, Fort Greene Park, Fowler Square Area and the Classon Avenue G train station were the sites of the most crimes this year, according to NYPD data.

The 88th Precinct saw two murders, three rapes, 118 robberies, 100 burglaries, 101 felony assaults, 253 grand larcenies and 52 auto thefts over the seven-month period through July 31 — slightly more than 12 crimes per 1,000 residents.

Crime in the hot spots accounted for all of the murders, two of the rapes, and about half of the robberies and felony assaults, police said. Ingersoll and Walt Whitman saw the most total crimes during that period — 97 — including 35 felony assaults and 54 robberies, burglaries and grand larcenies, according to NYPD data.

Capt. Peter Fiorillo, commanding officer of the 88th Precinct, said his precinct is working to address the problem spots — along with sites including Park Avenue between North Portland Avenue and St. Edwards Street and the area near Commodore Barry Park, where three shootings have taken place this year.

"All of these places are on our radar," he said, adding that "overall crime is down; I am happy with the way things are going in the 88 [Precinct]."

Since last year, murder in the precinct has dropped 60 percent (from 5 to 2) and robberies dropped 11 percent (from 139 to 123), according to police data.

Fiorillo has implemented several new measures since he was assigned to the 88th Precinct in March of this year, including awareness campaigns for residents, increased police presence, undercover investigations and partnerships with the officers who patrol the public housing developments in the area.

Police officials say that while crime has been decreasing in the public housing complexes through concerted efforts, other areas in the precinct, like Fowler Square, have seen crime rise.

"We are really paying attention to Fowler Square. I am putting more officers there," said Fiorillo, adding that there were four felony assaults and 17 grand larcenies, burglaries and robberies in Fowler Square in the first seven months of this year.

Below is a roundup of the crime hot spots in the 88th Precinct:

Ingersoll and Walt Whitman Houses, 97 total crimes

There have been three shootings at Ingersoll and Whitman this year, according to Fiorillo, and he is making a concerted effort to address violence and crime in the area, some of which is drug-related.

Fiorillo said the precinct works hand-in-hand with special anti-crime and narcotics units in Ingersoll and he recently started undercover investigations that are designed to gather information. He also has a strong partnership with Police Service Areas — special police that patrol NYCHA developments.

During his tenure, he's increased the 88th's police presence in this area.

"There are more than an adequate amount of officers at Ingersoll and Whitman," he said. "I have put my best officers on patrol."

There were 35 felony assaults, 25 robberies, two rapes and one murder in the developments since the beginning of the year.

Samantha Johnson, site director at Ingersoll Community Center that opened in late 2009, believes that the complex is becoming increasingly safe.

"The younger kids say they feel safer in their neighborhood and a lot of the teens are spending longer hours at the center," she said. "That keeps them out of trouble."

Walt Whitman resident Kiema Lane, 40, also said she is feeling safer.

"I leave my apartment door unlocked," she said.

Flatbush Avenue between DeKalb Avenue and Fulton Street, 36 total crimes

This block of Flatbush Avenue, on the western border of the precinct, is right next to Long Island University, Brooklyn Tech High School and the B, D, N, Q and R lines at the DeKalb Avenue train station, making it a popular place for young people and commuters to gather.

The majority of crimes reported in the area were grand larcenies — in particular bike thefts and pickpocketing, Fiorillo said.

He also said there is often criminal activity at Applebee's, McDonald's and 7-11, where people skip out on the bill, loiter and get into fights.

Fort Greene Park, 34 total crimes

The majority of crime in the park consisted of 15 robberies and 14 grand larcenies. Despite being 30 acres, over the minimum size required by city legislation for reporting, the park was not included in a new list of crime statistics for parks.

One sergeant and four officers patrol the park, in particular the barbecue area on the northern end, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Fiorillo said.

"We patrol that area nightly and make sure people leave at 9 p.m.," he said. "Historically patrolling that area has helped reduce crime numbers."

Andrea Solstad, 27, who has lived in the neighborhood most of her life, said she generally feels safe in the greenspace and other areas in the neighborhood.

"There are not many places that I walk around here, even at night, and feel unsafe," she said.

Fowler Square Area, 23 total crimes

The 88th precinct recently made the area around Fowler Square, where Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street meet, a priority, with around half of the crimes grand larceny.

Fiorillo said the majority of crimes in the area are "crimes of opportunity," meaning potential thieves might steal cars with their doors left unlocked or swipe phones from unsuspecting people wearing headphones as opposed to the area being a destination place for planned crime.

Officers often work overtime to raise awareness about auto and phone thefts and to make people more aware of their surroundings.

Classon Avenue G train station, 17 total crimes

Local police have identified a pattern at this transportation hub where the G train and the B38 bus meet. Fiorillo said there is one suspect contributing to the majority of the grand larcenies in the area and police are working to make an arrest.

"You'd be surprised how much one thief can get done," he said.

The area, which is one block from the precinct, is also popular because of Classon Playground, where neighbors complain of arguments, noise and gunfire. There were also six robberies.