INWOOD — Crime is up in the 34th Precinct for the third month in a row — with a host of violent crimes leading the uptick, according to police.
The most recent 28-day period, which ended May 24, saw a 15 percent increase in major felonies, including murder, robbery, felony assault, burglary and grand larceny.
There were 106 major felonies during that time compared to 92 for the same period last year, Deputy Inspector Chris Morello told community members at Wednesday's precinct meeting.
Statistics show that the increase was driven largely by robberies, felony assaults and burglaries.
This month was a violent one in the precinct, with an early-morning shooting on May 10 outside Tette Nightclub leaving one man dead and marking the first murder of the year.
Less than two weeks later, on May 23, a man shot three other men after they assaulted him near 207th Street and Tenth Avenue.
Police arrested the shooter that night and charged him with attempted murder, police said. After reviewing video of the incident, they also charged two of the shooting victims with gang assault.
No arrests have been made in the murder, but Morello said investigators obtained video related to the incident and are following up on several leads.
The deputy inspector noted that while crime is up compared to last year, felony arrests had also increased. There were 67 percent more felony arrests during the 28-day period than during the same period last year, police said.
“While we’re taking more major crimes than we used to, we’re arresting at a much greater rate than last year,” Morello said.
In addition, officers have stepped up enforcement for quality-of-life issues, he said.
Police wrote 98 summonses for inappropriate noise during this 28-day period, compared to 34 for the same period last year, Morello said. Officers also confiscated 13 illegal dirt bikes in May, he said.
