Bad Economy Blamed for Spike in For-Profit Crimes

BROOKLYN — Robberies, break-ins, car theft and stickups soared last year in Brooklyn neighborhoods where crime had dipped, NYPD statistics show.

From Greenpoint to Crown Heights, many north Brooklyn neighborhoods were plagued by dramatic jumps in economic crimes last year, the year-end numbers reveal.

“It’s got to have to do with the bad economy,” said Juan Rodriguez, 24, whose black 2006 Chrysler 300C was one of 174 cars stolen in Bushwick’s 83rd Precinct last year – up from 155 in 2009, according to police statistics – which also showed Brooklyn North was the only sector in the city to see a rise in overall crime last year.

“People aren’t working and they’re obviously stupid enough to go out there and do stuff like this for money,” said Rodriguez.

The numbers also showed that Brooklyn continues to be home to the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods, as East New York surged with 31 murders last year, up from 24 in 2009; and Brownsville jumped from 21 in 2009 to 27 in 2010.

Residents across the borough said the rise in thefts, muggings and break-ins was a sign of the tough economic times – especially in gentrifying neighborhoods.

Citywide crime dropped by a little more than 1% last year, though the uptick in Crown Height’s 77th Precinct – where overall crime surged by more than 17% – had some residents thinking of moving away.

“I’m a prime example of that,” said Howard Jackson, 49, who for four years had no problems living in the neighborhood – until his car was broken into twice in December. “I feel bad about (the rise in crime). It’s too much. I’m trying to see if I can move out.”

Burglaries in the 77th Precinct jumped from 243 in 2009 to 311 last year; shootings soared a shocking 30%, from 56 in 2009 to 73 last year, the stats show.

The NYPD did not respond to requests for comment.

But Michael Wertz, 34, who had more than $3,000 worth of electronics and watches taken from his Greenwood Heights home in September, said he was convinced the mix of a bad economy with gentrification made his house an easy target.

“The police told us [the robbers] come down from other parts of Sunset Park and look for places that look richer,” said Wertz, whose Fourth Ave. home is down the block from the 72nd Precinct, where grand larcenies jumped from 336 in 2009 to 367 last year.

“One officer told us to get a dog, which we did,” he said. “We got a German shepherd and an alarm system.”

In Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, where the most recent census data show a substantial increase in white residents since 2000, crime surged 12% last year, spurred by an uptick in grand larcenies, up from 400 in 2009 to 467 last year.

“It’s scary … There are some younger people and affluent people living here, but there’s a lot of people who have lived here longer and some of them don’t have as much,” said long-time Clinton Hill resident Charles Lissade, 49.

City Council Member Letitia James (D-Fort Greene) said the area is still home to the very poor and the very rich.

“And they’re living side by side,” said James. “You add a downturn in our economy … and it’s something we need to stop.”