Crime in The Stuy: A Look at the Neighborhood

Is crime on the rise in Bedford-Stuyvesant? Judging from the daily crime reports, it certainly feels that way.

In this three-part series on crime in Bed-Stuy, we will look at the neighborhood's crime landscape to determine whether crime is in fact on the rise, and if so, in what areas. We will also look at the some of the potential causes of crime, and finally, steps taken by the neighborhood's two precincts and the community to address it.

“Bed-Stuy do or die," is a tagline that has haunted Bedford-Stuyvesant residents for more than two decades. It recalls a time -- in the 80s -- when Bed-Stuy was one of New York City’s most dangerous neighborhoods; when violent crime was almost a daily occurrence.

But it is also a moniker the neighborhood has fought hard to shake. And in the last ten years, as crime has dropped dramatically in the neighborhood -- and in the city overall -- it seemed as thought the epithet had been jettisoned for good.

However, now, three years deep into a national recession that has birthed record-high unemployment, dramatic cuts in law enforcement personnel and a wholesale reductions in social programs for teens, it appears as though there is not a day in which one of Bed-Stuy's two precincts is not reporting a rash of auto thefts, larcenies, shootings or bank robberies.

A survey of CompStat crimes statistics shows that, although citywide crime has been on a steady decline, there have been some targeted areas of crime where there has been a spike. But even in those areas, this may have less to do with increased crime activity as it does with an increased vigilance by law enforcement to report them.

When compared to the numbers in April 2010, city wide crime overall is down from last year, a trend that has been steady since the late 90’s. However, NYPD statistics show a spike in rapes, up by 20.6 percent, and felony assaults, up by 5.8 percent.

The NYPD sites the increase in rapes could be a result of more women reporting rapes. Just one in six rapes are reported to the police in New York State, according to the state Department of Health.

"[Increase in rapes] indicates a willingness of victims to come forward, even when they know their assailant,” said an NYPD spokesperson.

Brooklyn reported the highest increase in overall crime amongst all five boroughs, up 2.58 percent from last year at this time, with 8,027 total reported crimes across the borough.

Brooklyn reported the highest increase in overall crime amongst all five boroughs, up 2.58 percent from last year at this time, with 8,027 total reported crimes across the borough, according to CompStat reports for Brooklyn North and South.

The unemployment rate citywide is lower, currently 8.0 percent, compared 9.1 percent for the city, according to Department of Labor. In Brooklyn, the statistic is worse at 9.1 percent, but is also down from last year’s rate, compared to 10.5 percent, according to the Department of Labor.

However, the unemployment number is significantly higher in Bed-Stuy --  15.3, according a Daily News article that sites the Fiscal Policy Institute -- where far too many residents are still struggle with finding any gainful employment.

Add dramatic cuts in city and state spending in the police and fire departments over the last three years, and you see the beginnings of a recipe for disaster, a near perfect storm.

The 79th police precinct (which covers the areas of Flushing to Atlantic Avenues north to south, and Classon Avenue to Marcus Garvey Blvd, east to west) reports that crime is down 14 percent compared to this same time last year.

However, misdemeanor assaults are up 6 percent; assault are up 2.4 percent, and there is an 18.6 percent increase in petty larceny.

The 81st police precinct (which covers the areas of Flushing to Atlantic Avenues north to south and Marcus Garvey Blvd. to Broadway Avenue, east to west) reports that crime is up 2.7 percent compared to this same time last year, with burglary, grand larceny and misdemeanor assaults leading the way.

One reason crime stats are up in the 81st precinct, may have to do with more accurate reporting this year. Recall, last year, the 81st Precinct was embroiled in controversial investigation after secret audio recordings revealed that the former precinct bosses were threatening patrolmen if they didn't make their quotas of arrests and stop-and-frisks, while also pressuring them not to take certain robbery reports in order to manipulate crime statistics. The recordings also revealed command officers calling crime victims directly to intimidate them about their complaints. 

Some of the more prominent cases reported by Bed-Stuy Patch this year so far include the discovery of and shot multiple times in the basement on Pulaski Street on April 6; a rash of auto auto thefts taking place around Marcy Gardens Housing Projects; and a shoot out involving another off-duty officer thwarting an attempted robbery at the corner or Albany and Atlantic Ave on April 16.

Both the 81st and 79th precincts declined to comment on any of these crimes or activities within the confines of their precincts.

On Wednesday, we will look continue our "Crime in the Stuy" series by examining further some of the potential causes for an increase (and decrease) in crime in some areas.