Police: Theft Of Rims, Tires On The Rise

Despite a drop in most crime categories so far this year, theft of tires and rims remains a concern for the New York Police Department.

At a regular monthly meeting on Tuesday in Bayside, police warned residents that incidents involving cars parked on the street or in driveways was on the rise not only in the 111th Precinct, which covers Little Neck, Douglaston and Bayside, but in the neighboring 109th and 105th Precincts as well.

Auto-related thefts remain a persistent problem in the Little Neck area, according to Judy Cohen, president of the North Hills Estates Civic Association.

Though most crimes have dropped significantly precinct-wide so far this year compared to this time in 2010, grand larcenies are down a comparatively modest 18.5 percent, according to police statistics covering 2011 through March 27. 

Meanwhile, car thefts fell by 6.7 percent so far this year.

The number of incidents dropped two other major seven crime categories: felony assault and burglary. But the precinct reported one murder so far this year as well as slight increases in the number of rapes and robberies.

The year’s sole murder at a home on 215th Street in Bayside, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.

With warm weather on the horizon, police also reminded residents that barbecues needed to be at least 10 feet away from a building. Also, the law prohibits the storage of barbecue units or gas tanks inside garages.

Nathan Duke contributed reporting.