New York City’s 109th Precinct held its monthly police-civilian meeting on the evening of October 8th to review the public safety situation in its jurisdiction for the month of September. Precinct Commander Kevin Coleman pointed out that the crime rate in the area has decreased by 14% compared to last year, following a 6% decrease in 2024.
The main types of crimes in the precinct continue to be burglaries and major automobile thefts. A new trend has emerged involving thieves targeting Honda vehicles specifically to steal their airbags. Criminal gangs have committed 14 vehicle thefts in the vicinity of Kissena Park.
Coleman recommended that the public contact dealerships to upgrade their anti-theft systems to make it more difficult for thieves to steal airbags. He also suggested installing steering wheel locks, which not only block access to airbags but also enhance overall vehicle security.
Retail theft in the precinct has decreased by 16%. Kevin O’Donnell, Chairman of the precinct’s Community Council and also the security supervisor at the Tianjing Shopping Center, attributed the significant reduction in thefts at the shopping center to the efforts of the police.
The Commander pointed out that burglaries in Flushing often occur late at night when thieves enter through open windows, targeting Asian small business owners who are more likely to keep large amounts of cash at home. Perpetrators often follow victims home to scout their residences. He urged the public to be vigilant, especially when leaving banks or using ATMs – prime opportunities for thieves to target individuals carrying large amounts of cash.
As previously mentioned, there has been a surge in jewelry scam cases in the past month. The modus operandi involves individuals approaching victims (often elderly) under the pretext of asking for directions or other assistance. In the midst of expressions of gratitude, they attempt to put cheap jewelry on the victim’s neck and then remove more valuable jewelry from them. By the time the victims realize something is amiss, the culprits have already fled in a vehicle. Residents should remain cautious of strangers who initiate conversations.
During the meeting, Hyun Chu, Christopher Napolitano, and Erik Friedrich were recognized for their outstanding contributions as police officers.
Officer Hyun Chu tracked down a suspected motorcycle thief to Francis Lewis Park, where the culprit met with an accomplice who was in possession of a stolen motorcycle from New Rochelle City. Chu successfully apprehended both suspects.
Additionally, Officer Napolitano arrested a man in the act of committing commercial theft, while Officer Friedrich apprehended two suspects attempting to commit jewelry fraud and theft – a type of scam that is increasingly prevalent in the 109th Precinct. Both apprehended individuals had a history of multiple jewelry fraud crimes.