Burglaries Double While Overall Crime Drops In Bayside: NYPD

BAYSIDE, QUEENS -- Bayside residents can rest easy knowing overall crime in the Queens neighborhood saw yet another month of decline, though they may want to lock their doors.

NYPD Precinct 111 Commanding Officer William McBride said in the precinct's community council meeting on Monday that Bayside is reaching "unprecedented levels of safety and local security not seen since the 1940s and early 50s.

The precinct's overall crimes through the month of November, which included no rapes or murders, were down by nearly 19 percent, according to the NYPD. But despite assaults and robberies in the single digits and the amount of grand larcenies cut in half since last year, burglary is the one standout crime that appears to be on the rise in the area, McBride said.

There were 28 burglaries reported to the precinct in a 28-day period during November, which is double the amount recorded for that same time span last year, according to the NYPD.

McBride said in the community council meeting that he planned to up on-foot and helicopter patrols in areas of the command being targeted. In the meantime, officers encouraged locals to lock their windows and doors, keep their yards illuminated and install a home burglary alarm if possible.