Crime Spikes in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill

The ball hasn't even dropped yet, and NYPD statistics reveal that in 2010 the number of murders and rapes doubled in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill compared to 2009.

Yearly statistics covering up to December 19 show that the number of felonies has increased by 11.5 percent within the confines of the 88th Precinct, which covers the vast majority of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill.

A breakdown of the precinct's CompStat numbers reveals that violent crime, robberies and grand larcenies saw the most significant increases this year.

There were six murders this year, compared to three last year.

There were eight rapes this year, compared to four last year.

There were 228 robberies this year, compared to 194 in 2009.

There were 455 grand larcenies this year — theft of over $1,000-worth of property — compared to 390 in 2009.

There were 99 cases of grand larceny of automobiles in 2010, compared to 88 in 2009.

"I've changed my behavior a bit," said Morgan Hills, who lives in Fort Greene. "Now I don't pull my cellphone out when I'm walking home from the train."

Morgan added that he'd heard about an uptick in cellphone swipes, including the "bike bandit" who grabbed numerous iPhones right out of peoples' hands while riding on a bicycle last year.

Still, if there is a silver lining to such grim statistics, it's that not all categories saw an increase.

Burglaries and felony assaults are essentially at the same levels they were last year.

But just this month there has been a rash of unsettling violence, including a robbery incident at the popular Choice Market on Dec. 7, which particularly shook the neighborhood.

In that incident, three masked men, two of them armed, stormed the restaurant, held the manager at gunpoint and stole around $1,000 cash from the register.

The robbery, among others, led Councilwoman Tish James to address the crime spike at a recent community meeting.

Officers with the 88th Precinct would not comment, but they have been present at numerous community meetings and town halls in recent months. A spokesman with the NYPD's Public Information Office did not immediately respond for comment.