After Summer Recess, The Latest News From The 66th Precinct Community Council

The NYPD 66th Precinct marked summer’s end with its first meeting of the Fall season Monday, September 20th.

As of this past Monday, the meeting day will be the third Monday of each month at 7pm. (But please note that October’s upcoming Jewish holidays will push the next meeting back to Thursday, October 27 at 7pm.)

The 66th Precinct Community Council meetings take place at Community Board 12 headquarters, 5910 Thirteenth Avenue in Borough Park, off 60th Street.

Cops of the Month
According to Captain Quick the 66th has been buzzed by bike-riding thieves snatching cell phones from callers’ hands. They thought the problem was solved back in May when they caught two perps but thieves stung again in June.

Working with the 70th Precinct, the 66th caught two alleged Flatbush gang members who rode up and grabbed phones from behind. Again it seemed the problem was solved.

The robberies continued all summer, however—stinging 14 people in all from Cortelyou Road up to 60th Street and 17th Avenue. Working from a photo, Officers Atsaves and Chen, two new Conditions’ Unit officers, busted a biker who ran a red light, a violation. He ended up confessing to 10 cell-phone robberies and was charged with 14 counts of grand larceny and robbery.

Despite these arrests, Captain Quick said cell-phone theft remains the precinct’s #1 headache, particularly from bike riders. “It’s an easy crime,” Quick said. “The thief can ride up alongside you and steal your means to notify the cops.” There’s plenty of cell-phone theft around the Eighth and Ninth Avenue corridors, Quick warned, so be aware of your surroundings.

Crime Stats
It was a quiet summer in the 66th, Captain Quick reported. CompStat’s seven major crime categories had an overall drop of 12.5 percent in the past 28 days. Burglaries decreased 50 percent over the summer, thanks, Quick said, to the Shomrim’s vigilance. They caught 4 burglars in the act while many of the Orthodox Jewish residents were away on vacation.

Felonious assault is a recurring problem all over the precinct. It increased 33.3 percent in the past 28-day period. It’s a physical attack or threat of one, and it can happen in any situation where people get into conflict: from business disagreements, a dispute with a landlord or an argument with friends or lovers.

The precinct says that it is assigning more officers to its Domestic Violence Unit. The 66th’s Crime Prevention Officer, Stephen Singh, now discusses felonious assault as part of his outreach to community centers and immigrants. As people become more comfortable with American culture, Quick says, they are telling the cops about incidents with neighbors and friends, and asking for help.

“You don’t always know who you’re dealing with,” Quick added about disagreements with acquaintances. Rather than letting a dispute fester, Quick suggested walking away or calling the precinct to help resolve it.

Car Tracks
From the floor a woman wanted to know why it takes so long for the police to come after a collision; another wanted to know why cops don’t ticket at Moishe’s where there’s a traffic jam from morning to night — the result of double parking, parking in the crosswalk, and constant honking. (Not true! Quick said. We ticket!)

And a third woman: how come yellow school buses are allowed to hog residential street parking and block a homeowner’s driveway access? The new Traffic Coordinator, Seargent DeCastro, sat down and took copious notes. His phone number is (929) 364-8327.

A 12-yr old student was critically injured riding his bike to school at 7am on September 14th at Cortelyou and Dahill Roads, near the Dome Playground. The child was wearing a helmet, but according to the Daily News, “the impact [was] so severe, the victim’s helmet shattered into pieces.” Quick said he was on the wrong side of traffic and ran the red light. Quick asked residents to teach their children bike safety.

And one final note, about security: The precinct will be stepping up patrols for the Jewish High Holidays, Quick said.  A vigilant community is “our best weapon.”

“Even if it winds up being nothing, we want you to call and keep on calling. If you hear somebody at a community center or a house of worship…even if you think it sounds screwy, please call us.”