Editor’s Note: This story reflects crime stats through Dec. 24, 2017 and does not include the last week of 2017.
Brooklyn’s reported felony crime including murder, rape, robbery, felony assault, burglary, grand larceny and auto theft fell about 5% in 2017 as compared to 2016, reflecting the city’s overall felony crime reduction of a little over 5%, according to the latest New York City Police Department’s crime statistics.
Brooklyn crime statistics is divided into two sectors, Brooklyn North, which includes 10 police precincts, and Brooklyn South, which includes 13 police precincts. Both sectors saw a roughly 5% reduction in overall felony crime.
“The historic declines in crime that we are experiencing in Brooklyn can be described as nothing short of a miracle. But they were not achieved by chance – they are a testament to the dedicated work and smart-on-crime strategies of the NYPD, my prosecutors and our other partners in law enforcement and in the community,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
Of these crimes categories, murder in Brooklyn is down more than 13% last year as compared to 2016, reflecting a decrease for nearly all precincts. This includes both the 73rd and 75th Police precincts covering East New York and Brownsville.
In the 75th precinct there were 11 reported murders in 2017 compared to 23 in 2016 or a 52.2% reduction. In the 73rd precinct there were nine reported murders last year as compared to 14 in 2016 for about a 36% percent reduction.
Conversely, the 67th precinct covering East Flatbush and the 60th precinct covering Coney Island and Brighton Beach saw increases in murder.
The 67th precinct saw an additional five murders from last year, bringing the total to 17 matching its 2015 total, a nearly 42% increase from 2016. This is despite both shooting incidents and shooting victims decreasing by nearly 21% and 26% respectively in the precinct.
The 60th precinct saw eight murders compared to three last year, about a 167% increase. The 90th Precinct in Brooklyn North covering Williamsburg also saw a large percentage increase with murders totaling seven compared to three last year, about a 133% increase.
Of the felony crime categories, only rape was up in 2017, with an increase of 19 reports or 4% in 2017 as compared to 2016.
In addition to the drops Brooklyn has seen in felony offenses, there has been an overall decrease in shooting incidents, about 29%, and shooting victims, more than 30%. But even as most recorded categories have seen a decrease, in addition to the small uptick in rape reports, there has been a more than 9% increase in misdemeanor sex crimes, which the NYPD statistics include as sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, forcible touching, endangering the welfare of a child, and obscenity.
The largest increase, however, has been seen for crimes in the transit system, more than 12% from last year.
“Our city’s historic drop in crime is an achievement beyond words. Incredible praise is due to our hardworking police officers and our anti-violence advocates. So many doubted we could have safe streets and better policing. We proved them wrong,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.
