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4 times • JANUARY 07, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com Pet store targeted in second Maspeth firebombing BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport Days after a strip club was hit with Molotov cocktails, a second Maspeth business was firebombed, but police indicated the incidents were not related. According to authorities, Grand Avenue Pet Center, located at 73-15 Grand Ave., was the target for this second firebomb attack, which occurred at approximately 12:16 a.m. on Jan. 4. Reportedly, an unidentified person threw an incendiary device at the pet shop while it was occupied, causing damage to the building and contents. The flames were extinguished before fire crews reached the scene, police said. This attack took place on the heels of another incident of two Molotov cocktails being thrown at the CityScapes strip club in Maspeth on New Year’s Eve, the day after New York Knicks player Cleanthony Early was shot in the leg after leaving the club. Police do not believe these two firebomb attacks to be related and investigations are ongoing for both cases. “I am deeply disturbed by the recent incidents involving Molotov cocktails being thrown at businesses in my district,” said City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley. “I understand that the NYPD does not believe the incidents are related and know that they are working diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice. I am equally troubled by the recent events at CityScapes and I believe this type of establishment does not fit the character of Maspeth and should close its doors.” Anyone with information about the attacks is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential. Here’s how Queens cops fought crime borough-wide in 2015 BY ANTHONY GIUDICE agiudice@ridgewoodtimes.com @A_GiudiceReport The “World’s Borough” was a safer place in 2015, according to the New York Police Department. The NYPD has released the 2015 crime totals for the seven major index crimes. Overall index crime in New York City fell by 1.7 percent when compared to 2014, and crime since January 2014 has decreased 5.8 percent overall. These preliminary crime numbers show 2015 as having the lowest yearly crime numbers ever in the modern Compstat era. “At this point, 2015 marks the safest year in the modern history in New York City,” said Police Commissioner William Bratton. “Since 1993, we have experienced more than a 75 percent decrease in crime and an 81 percent decrease in murders. Today, we are practicing precision-policing focused on addressing the pockets of crime that remain, while exercising discretion in enforcement and reducing the number of enforcement encounters across the city.” Queens, which is broken into Queens North and Queens South, saw total crime drop in 2015, compared to the previous year. Patrol Borough Queens North, which is comprised of the 104th, 108th, 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th, 114th and 115th precincts, had a 9 percent decrease in total crimes compared to 2014. Patrol Borough Queens South, which is made up of the 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 105th, 106th, 107th and 113th precincts, saw total crime drop over 3 percent compared to 2014. Throughout Queens, the 113th Precinct had the most murders with nine; the 111th Precinct had no murders in 2015, according to the CompStat report for Dec. 27. The 105th Precinct recorded 37 rapes, the most in Queens for the year. The 103rd Precinct had the most robberies and felony assaults for 2015 with 377 and 439, respectively. These numbers are preliminary and subject to change, it was noted. “Last year’s record low crime rate is further proof that the NYPD is the best police force in the world. I want to commend the strong women and men of the NYPD and Commissioner Bratton for protecting our city from all forms of crime,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Thanks to the NYPD, we have closed out the year as the safest big city in the nation while continuing to build bridges between the police and community. And next year, we won’t stop working to ensure our officers have the equipment, support and resources they need to continue protecting our residents each day.” All of the crime data can be found on the NYPD’s new publicly accessible website, which provides incident-level crime data for the seven index crimes. The available information will consist of 19 distinct variables for each crime reported, including the date and time of the occurrence, location and other specific fields, as well as an interactive map to track crime locations. The information will be posted on the NYPD’s website and the NYC Open Data Portal. “It is our hope that the public utilizes this information to increase their awareness and knowledge of crime conditions around the city and in their local neighborhoods,” Bratton said in a statement. “This release of available data is part of the NYPD’s continued effort to promote transparency and collaboration with advocacy groups, community leaders and elected officials as well as members of the public.” JACKSON HEIGHTS ELMHURST FLUSHING BAYSIDE 109th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 2017 CRIMES 2015 1856 CHANGE 7.98 111st PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 880 CRIMES 2015 794 CHANGE 9.77 FRESH MEADOWS 107th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1,105 CRIMES 2015 1,094 CHANGE 1 JAMAICA QUEENS VILLAGE 105th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1725 CRIMES 2015 1918 CHANGE 11.19 ROCHDALE VILLAGE 113rd PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1863 CRIMES 2015 1569 CHANGE 15.78% 101st PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 868 CRIMES 2015 922 CHANGE 6.22% 100th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 551 CRIMES 2015 497 CHANGE 9.8% 114th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1899 CRIMES 2015 1744 CHANGE 8.16 108th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1270 CRIMES 2015 1077 CHANGE 15.2 104th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1502 CRIMES 2015 1334 CHANGE 11.19 102nd PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1527 CRIMES 2015 1404 CHANGE 8.06 106th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1552 CRIMES 2015 1544 CHANGE 0.52 115th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1861 CRIMES 2015 1767 CHANGE 5.05 110th PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1608 CRIMES 2015 1489 CHANGE 7.4 112nd PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 749 CRIMES 2015 649 CHANGE 13.35 103rd PRECINCT CRIMES 2014 1,802 CRIMES 2015 1,592 CHANGE 6.1 CRIME STATS 2015 ASTORIA LIC FOREST HILL RIDGEWOOD RICHMOND HILL OZONE PARK ROCKAWAY BEACH FAR ROCKAWAY I understand that the NYPD does not believe the incidents are related and know that they are working diligently to bring the perpetrators to justice. —City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley.


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