Rapes and burglaries increase across the municipality, major thefts decrease – QNS

The number of reported rapes and burglaries in Queens increased significantly in the 28-day period from Aug. 5 to Sept. 1, compared to the same period last year, according to the latest NYPD crime statistics. Major thefts, however, took a dive in the borough during the same period.

In northern Queens, rapes increased 70% year-over-year, from 10 in 2023 to 17 in 2024. This significant change was largely due to increases in the 108th and 109th precincts.

In the 108th Precinct, which includes Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside, reported rapes rose from none last year to five this year. The 109th Precinct, which includes Flushing, Queensboro Hill, College Point, Whitestone and Bay Terrace, saw a similar trend, with reported cases rising from two last year to seven this year.

Burglaries in northern Queens also rose significantly over the 28-day period, up 21.7% from 138 in 2023 to 168 in 2024. During that period, the 111th Precinct, which includes Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, Auburndale, Hollis Hills and Fresh Meadows, had the largest increase in cases, with the number of reported cases rising from 23 last year to 38 this year.

Southern Queens experienced very similar trends as the northern part of the borough in terms of rapes over the 28-day period. Rape cases there increased by 88.9%, from 9 in 2023 to 17 in 2024. This change was best reflected within the boundaries of the 113th Precinct, which includes Hollis, South Jamaica, South Ozone Park and St. Albans. Rapes there increased from one last year to five this year.

When it comes to burglaries in southern Queens, the overall change is similar to what was seen in northern Queens. Over the 28-day period, cases increased 15% year-over-year, from 80 in 2023 to 92 in 2024. The 103rd Precinct, which includes Hollis Park Gardens, Hollis, Lakewood and Jamaica, saw a huge spike in burglaries, from 8 last year to 32 this year.

One major crime that saw a significant drop in cases in both northern and southern Queens over the 28-day period was aggravated robbery.

In northern Queens, reported grand thefts fell 5.9% year-over-year, from 555 in 2023 to 522 in 2024. The 104th Precinct, which oversees Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth and Middle Village, had the steepest decline in northern Queens, dropping from 63 last year to 42 this year.

Southern Queens saw an even bigger drop in grand thefts over the 28-day period compared to the previous year, with cases dropping 17.9%, from 318 in 2023 to 261 in 2024. The 105th Precinct, which includes Bellerose, Cambria Heights, Glen Oaks, Laurelton and Queens Village, saw by far the most significant drop in cases, which more than halved. Reported grand thefts there dropped from 81 last year to 40 this year.

On a year-over-year basis, the total number of reported serious crimes in the 28-day period ending September 1 – murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, aggravated robbery and auto theft – declined in both northern and southern Queens, despite large increases in rape and burglary.

The number of serious crimes in northern Queens decreased by 2.34%, from 1,368 in 2023 to 1,336 in 2024.

While the number of serious crimes in the 28-day period was down from the previous year, Northern Queens has seen more serious crimes year-to-date. Through September 1, serious crimes there are up 3.65% year-to-date, from 11,000 in 2023 to 11,402 in 2024.

In southern Queens, serious crimes decreased 1.21% in the 28-day period from the previous year, from 911 in 2023 to 900 in 2024.

Southern Queens had a slight increase in serious crimes so far this year. There was a 0.63% increase in serious crimes, from 7,315 last year to 7,361 this year.