By: Jeff Lipton
The total number of serious crimes declined from 238 in 2003 to 217 last year, according to Fourth Precinct police statistics released last week. Serious crime comprises murder, sexual assault, robbery, commercial and residential burglary, felonious assault and auto theft.
One of the largest decreases was in sexual assault, which fell 89 percent, from nine cases in 2003 to one reported incident in 2004, police reported. Fourth Precinct police also continue to make progress in their crackdown on auto theft, which dropped 14 percent, from 66 incidents in 2003 to 57 last year. Robberies also showed a decline - 16 percent - from 38 to 32, according to the precinct.
The Five Towns recorded one murder in 2003 and none in 2004, while the frequency of burglaries was virtually unchanged: The number of commercial break-ins increased by one, from 33 to 34, and the number of residential burglaries remained the same, at 66. Felonious assault, meanwhile, increased slightly, from 25 incidents to 27, police said.
Inspector Richard McGuire, commanding officer of the Fourth Precinct, said he was pleased with the 2004 crime statistics. "We always strive for improvement, and in Utopia we would have no crime," McGuire said. "But we don't live in Utopia."
He said the decrease in auto theft could be attributed to the implementation of aggressive enforcement of vehicle and traffic laws in 2004. Police established checkpoints throughout the precinct, which has led to an uptick in arrests for stolen cars.
"We set up at locations that we think would give us the greatest increases in apprehending criminals and deterring stolen cars," McGuire said. "We also created a greater police presence at major roadways, which had a deterrent effect."
In general, police said, their efforts to make the roadways safer have cut down on accidents as well as injuries and deaths. McGuire said that Fourth Precinct officers handed out 75 percent more summonses for aggressive driving - speeding, unsafe lane changes, following too closely and passing a red light - in 2004, compared with the previous year.
In a new initiative to curb auto accidents, police said they are cracking down on drivers who leave their cars running unattended on the street, which make them inviting targets for youths or drug addicts. Police issued 18 summonses for that offense, which carries a $250 fine, from Jan. 1 through Jan. 26, and have impounded three cars.
"During the winter cold, people don't want to shut off the heat, and they leave the car running while they run into the store," McGuire said. "We found this out while doing an analysis of how cars are being stolen." Many of the cars, he said, have been taken by junkies who drive them into the city to get their "fixes," McGuire said. If a stolen car is involved in an accident, the owner can be held responsible for criminal and civil penalties, police said.
McGuire said that even though burglaries were up by one, they have been at an all-time low over the past several years. There were years when the number of break-ins approached 200, he said.
McGuire explained that police have targeted areas where burglary and robbery patterns have emerged. Also, they have educated residents and merchants about how they can secure their property through a series of informational seminars, as well as information given out at community meetings.
Manpower in the precinct is at an all-time low, with 158 officers, McGuire said. The precinct has boasted some 280 officers in previous years.
Overall, crime in the Fourth Precinct decreased 12 percent from 2003 to 2004, which is the second-largest decrease among the eight precincts in Nassau County, McGuire said. Besides the Five Towns and Atlantic Beach, the Fourth Precinct encompasses Oceanside, Island Park, East Rockaway, Lido Beach and Point Lookout.
McGuire said that police have reduced sexual assaults by visiting bars and clubs to make sure that alcohol is not being sold to minors. Many assaults occur after drunken youths leave bars, he said.
Fourth Precinct officials said they were happy with the strides that have been made in the reduction of serious crime. "We have an enthusiastic group out on patrol," said Detective Sgt. Willard Miller of the Fourth Squad. "They continue to make arrests."
Miller said he was thrilled at the drop in the number of robberies, but added that he realized the Fourth Precinct couldn't rest on its laurels. He said that police depend heavily on any help the public can provide, particularly in burglary cases. "Certainly, we want people to call any time they see anything suspicious," Miller said. "It will put us on alert, and we could respond in a timely fashion. A nosy neighbor is our best friend."
Lt. Larry Feffer of the Fourth Precinct said he was also delighted that police were again able to make a dent in crime in 2004. "I think everybody should be happy," said Feffer. "We're all working together. We work with community groups and business owners. They try to give us as much help as possible. They provide us with information, and are the eyes and ears of the community."
Joe Gelb, president of the Hewlett Business Association, said he is extremely satisfied with the response and cooperation of the Fourth Precinct police under McGuire's command.
"They have a terrific group of officers there," said Gelb. "They are truly dedicated to the well-being of our community. They really make everyone feel very comfortable, not only in terms of visibility, but also on any kind of an issue. They are sensitive to it and handle it, with the emotional aspects, in an appropriate way and in a very low-keyed approach.
"They also respond very rapidly," he added.
Comments about this story? JLipton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
