On the evening of November 12th, the New York City Police Department’s 109th Precinct, which covers the Flushing area, held a community meeting to address recent crime trends in the area. During the meeting, precinct commander Kevin Coleman reported a concerning increase in robbery cases compared to the same period last year. A total of 28 robberies were reported, marking a 2.5 times increase from last year. Additionally, car thefts, a type of serious larceny, rose from 29 cases last year to 60 cases this year.
Coleman expressed alarm at the rise in robberies, stating, “The increase in robbery cases is worrying. We are doing everything we can to apprehend a pattern robber who operates in the vicinity of Kissena Park or the southern part of the park.”
The suspect’s modus operandi involves committing robberies in the early morning hours between 6 to 8 AM and in the evenings, targeting commuters on their way to work. The perpetrator typically rides a motorcycle, deliberately parking next to a vehicle and then robbing pedestrians opportunistically.
Describing the suspect, Coleman mentioned that the individual always wears black clothing, rides a black motorcycle, wears a black helmet, and often carries a black bag on the motorcycle resembling a delivery person. This person is responsible for 8 shooting incidents within the 109th Precinct boundaries and 3 incidents within the 110th Precinct. The primary crime locations are concentrated near Kissena Park, especially on routes 58 and 59 south of the park. Even when committing crimes north of the park, the suspect usually flees south through the park or continues south on streets adjacent to the park, subsequently escaping towards college points and entering the 110th Precinct area to commit further crimes.
“The victims are all working individuals,” Coleman emphasized. “One victim said, ‘Yes, I saw this person, but I didn’t pay attention because I thought he was a delivery person,’ so we remind everyone to stay vigilant.”
Regarding car theft cases, Coleman noted that the most commonly stolen brand last month was the Honda CR-V, as well as any Honda and Toyota Highlanders. He advised owners of these vehicle models to promptly contact the manufacturers to upgrade their security services.
The 109th Precinct area is vast, and during the past few years, public safety has been severely impacted by the pandemic, leading to a steady increase in crime rates. However, from last year onwards, various types of criminal activities have been effectively controlled.
“As I have mentioned several times this year, we still face many challenges, including crime and various issues,” Coleman stated. “But the 109th Precinct has made great progress this year, and we are moving in the right direction.”