DOWN



Queens Borough President Helen Marshall was told, Tuesday, June 16th that overall crime in the borough is down, but that burglaries and home invasions are a problem.



“Burglary seems to be the bellwether crime in Queens North,” Patrol Borough Queens North Commander Diana Pizutti told Marshall and members of the Queens Borough Cabinet at their Borough Hall meeting. However, Pizutti noted, “We have seen a reduction (in burglaries) of 16 percent.



Pizutti also said that overall crime in Queens North is down “a little more than 10 percent” and that arrests have increased.



Patrol Borough Queens South Chief Thomas Dale said that the seven major crime categories were down 16 percent to date from last year. Dale cited a home invasion pattern involving several precincts and said three suspects are currently being sought.



Both commanders spoke about youth and education outreach efforts as significant ways in which to reduce crime and urged the public to report suspicious persons or cars that continually circle an area. Dale also said that a recent gun buyback program was “a tremendous help,” with more than 1,000 guns turned in.



Summer plans include culling officers from different precincts to supplement the Rockaway peninsula when the population of beachgoers swells and maintaining youth programs.



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