By: Jason Scheer
Major crime in the First Precinct decreased from 2003 to 2004, according to a statistical report issued by the Nassau County Police Department.
All precincts in Nassau are required to track incidents and arrests. The figures of each category are entered into a database called Nass-Stat.
According to Nass-Stat figures, overall major crime reports fell from 6,119 in 2003 to 6,019 in 2004, representing a decrease of 1.63 percent.
Nass-Stat breaks down major crimes into several categories. Burglary was among the categories that changed most drastically. Total incidents of burglary fell from 423 incidents to 358 incidents as both residential and commercial burglary declined.
Another Nass-Stat category, sex crimes, paints a blurry picture of the first precinct. The category encompasses first degree rape, first degree criminal sexual act, offenses formerly classified as sodomy, and sexual abuse in the first degree. Incidents of sexual abuse rose from 15 in 2003 to 21 in 2004, an increase of 40 percent.
On the contrary, incidents of rape fell by 50 percent, from 22 to 11.
Richard C. McCarrick, deputy inspector for the First Precinct, said that the Nass-Stat system helps police hone in on problem areas.
"Using these Nass-Stat comparisons, we get information in a more timely manner," he said. "The information illustrates where there are problems so we can address them a little bit faster."
Also, McCarrick said that specialized units have been formed and mobilized in an effort to eliminate prevalent offenses.
An example, McCarrick said, has been the decline of gang violence. He said the precinct has taken a strong stand against gangs and that incidents of gang violence decreased in 2004.
"We attribute [the change] to the focus we have on gang activity. We take a very proactive approach towards gangs," he said.
As for 2005, McCarrick said the precinct will strive to reduce and remove all forms of crime. "Our concern is crime and crime reduction. Our desire is to reduce all crime even further," he said. "Certainly we're going to focus our attention on areas where we see emerging factors. Our primary focus is on gangs, it's on violence, its on drugs."
McCarrick encouraged residents to take an equally proactive approach to their safety. He said they should be the precinct's "eyes and ears" and always report suspicious activity.
Furthermore, he offered a tip to help thwart auto thefts. He explained that thefts tend to spike during January and February because people start their automobiles in an effort to warm them up. Often, however, they leave the vehicles running and unattended. He called such a practice an "invitation to criminals to steal cars."
