As 2016 passed the halfway mark last week major crime in Brooklyn has decreased dramatically for the year, according to official NYPD statistics.
NYPD breaks down Brooklyn into two sectors Brooklyn North and Brooklyn South, and added together murders are down three for the year with 57 reported homicides thus far in 2016 compared to 60 at this time last year.
In Brooklyn North murder is up one for the year with 35 murders as compared to 34 at this time in 2015, but Brooklyn South has seen four fewer murders – 22 so far in 2016 as compared to 26 at this time last year.
Correlating to murder, there has been a 22% decrease in shootings for the year with 195 reported so far in 2016 as compared to 250 at this time last year.
Among the precincts with the most dramatic drops in murder and shooting is the 70th Precinct covering Flatbush and Ditmas Park. Thus far this year there has been one murder for the year within the precinct’s jurisdiction as compared to five at this time in 2015, and four reported shootings as compared to 12 at this time last year.
On the flip side, the 81st Precinct covering the northern half of Bedford-Stuyvesant has seen six reported murders for the year an increase of four from the two that were reported at this time in 2015. Shootings were up in the precinct as well with 22 reported thus far in 2016 as compared to 16 at this time last year.
Among the felony crimes that did go up was felony assault, which had 2,921 reported cases so far this year as compared 2,838 at this time last year. Rape is about even with 215 reported cases so far in 2016 as compared to 213 at this time last year.
Reported robberies, burglaries, grand larceny and auto thefts were all down in both Brooklyn North and Brooklyn South.
In total for the year Brooklyn South has seen a 9.1% decrease in the seven felony crime categories so far this year. Brooklyn North has seeen a 6% decrease in the same categories.
De Blasio spokesperson Monica Klein said Brooklyn’s dramatic drop in crime this year is clear proof that precision policing is working.
“Under this administration, we are reducing unnecessary arrests and cracking down on serious crime—resulting in safer neighborhoods and a stronger relationship between police and the communities they serve,” said Klein.
