TEEN CRIME ON AGENDA

The 110th Precinct Community Council presented P.O. Scott D’Angelo (third from left) and P.O. Peter Linke (fourth from left) with Cop of the Month plaques, donated by the Times Newsweekly for their arrest of a group of marauding teen thieves in Elmhurst. Also pictured from left to right are: P.O. Janine Rivera of the Community Affairs Unit, Vice President of the Community Council Lula Brown, Deputy Inspector Richard Napolitano, Community Council Recording Secretary Ashley Cooper and P.O. Elvis Santana. Community Council President Evelyn DeCoursey wasn’t in attendance. (photo: Ralph Mancini) Teen crimes were the order of the day at the Wednesday, Oct. 19 110th Precinct Community Council meeting, as community members were made aware of the dangers that lurk in their community.

Deputy Inspector Richard Napolitano, the commanding officer of the 110th Precinct, told those in attendance at the Bethzatha Church of God in Elmhurst of ongoing teen robberies, where random individuals are reportedly being mugged for their iPods, cellular phones and Blackberry devices.

The perpetrators were described as youths generally between the ages of 15 and 17 that loiter around local schools ready to prey on their victims, said the precinct commander.

It was noted that thieves often target individuals who keep their heads down oblivious to what’s happening around them.

Often, the crime victims are reportedly text-messaging or talking into their cellular phones at the time of robbery.

“Criminals will not pick on an alert individual because that person will be able to identify them,” observed the Brooklyn native.

In an incident that occurred at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, a man found lying on the sidewalk bleeding in the area of 94th Street and Corona Avenue in Elmhurst apprised Police Officers Scott D’Angelo and Peter Linke that he had been beaten with a baseball bat and mugged by a group of eight teens.

The law enforcement agents tracked down the suspects and arrested them, according to Napolitano.

Guns were reportedly drawn and numerous weapons were recovered during the capture.

Officers D’Angelo and Linke were recognized with Cop of the Month plaques, donated by the Times Newsweekly, for collaring the offenders.

Most of the perpetrators had extensive criminal histories, it was noted.

Napolitano spoke of his precinct’s focus on cracking down on teen crimes by informing listeners of regular patrols on the part of the School Safety Unit, which is on the lookout for truants that are reportedly “scooped up” on a daily basis.

“If you see kids that should be in school who may be up to no good, that’s actually a 911 call,” he added.

Also mentioned were frequent visits on the part of precinct personnel to various neighborhood retailers advising them not to sell eggs or shaving cream to groups of adolescents and teens during the week of Halloween.

Local burglaries on the upswing

Residents were warned of a 15- percent increase in burglaries over the past 28 days and were told to be extra aware of their surroundings during the upcoming holiday season since “the bad guys have kids too,” reasoned Napolitano.

He further pointed out that a rising number of immigrants are being taken advantage of by individuals that are selling them illegitimate green cards for $500 or even $1,000 in some cases.

The highlighted crime statistics included a 17.1-percent decline in felony assaults compared to the same 28-day period in 2008 (197 versus 212), a 13-percent drop in grand larcenies (490 versus 564) and a decrease in grand larceny auto crimes by 13.7 percent (113 versus 131).

On a negative note, rapes were up by one (27 versus 26), along with gang related murders that followed suit with an increase of four crimes (five versus one).

Spotlight on beggars

In response to Community Board 4 member Anthony Moreno’s question regarding whether public begging is illegal, Napolitano assured him that it’s not.

The only way it could ever be considered unlawful, he said, was if the panhandling was done in an overly aggressive manner that intimidates people.

Domestic violence update

P.O. John Vannata of the 110th Precinct’s Domestic Violence Unit attended the October session to speak about the strides his team has made in battling spousal and child abuse.

The officer mentioned a 30-percent decrease in overall domestic violence over the past year along with regular home visits that are made to homes involved in cases of domestic harassment, assault and reckless endangerment.

“Police officers must make a house arrest if a felony is violated. An individual can be arrested for being intoxicated in his house,” he noted.

Vannata also pointed out that the Queens District Attorney’s office has the power to press charges against an individual accused of domestic abuse even if the victim chooses not to press charges.

In addition, listeners were told of how the Domestic Violence Unit is working hand-in-hand with the local District Attorney’s office by electronically downloading all pictures of suspected assailants directly in the DA office’s database.

New alumni program

Napolitano announced an initiative on the part of the Community Council’s former recording secretary Lucy Schilero to bring back former community police officers, as well as past members of the 110th Precinct Community Council.

Schilero who served as a Community Council officer for 25 years said that many of the people she will reach out to are still very active community members.

The 110th Precinct Community Council regularly meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at the Bethzatha Church of God, located at 85-24 57th Avenue in Elmhurst.