66th NYPD Precinct's Stats

Three rapes in the 66th Precinct from July 26 through August 8 prompted this reporter to email it to find out what happened and where. The rapes, or attempted, of these 18 to 30 yr-old women were all among “acquaintances,” Deputy Inspector John Sprague said in a phone call to this reporter. Had the rapists been strangers to the women, the 66th Precinct would immediately have put out drawings of these men and plastered them all over the precinct.

Fortunately none of these rapes occurred in Kensington, but all turned on the action/reaction of ex or current boyfriends. One woman met a man at a bar and invited him home. Not a problem until her former boyfriend got wind of her evening. At which point, she changed her story, now claiming her evening’s playmate raped her.

Also in the same two-week period, the 66th reported 9 felonious assaults and 6 robberies. Despite these weekly variations in stats, Commanding Officer Sprague said the overall crime rate in the 66th was down 9% for the year in all categories, while felonious assault has been flat for the year.

Be that as it may, one assault occurred late at night at Cortelyou and Coney Island Avenue, when two men got into a fight over batteries. Another, a robbery, occurred at 6:30 P.M. when a 14 yr-old was accosted and forced to turn over his cell phone. The 18 yr-old robber has since been arrested.

D.I. Sprague emphasized that paying careful attention to one’s surroundings is the best way to protect oneself, especially when leaving the subway. Too often, he said, as people walk home, they get comfortable and allow themselves to be distracted by texting or phone calls. Be aware of your situation: watch the reflections in shop windows. If you think you’re being followed, walk into a local store—or anywhere where there are people—to stop your pursuer. Or, you could use your cell as a prop. Talk loudly, say you’re right downstairs; wave a big hello to someone in a nearby apartment, or dial 911.

At the September 16 Police Community Council Meeting, D.I. Sprague said, Police Officer Jimmy Vaughn will show people how to protect themselves on the street.