Four Recent Robberies in the Heights: 84th Precinct Asks Residents to Take Precautions

By on July 1, 2016 3:43 pm in 84th Precinct, Brooklyn Heights, crime, News

This just in from Brooklyn Heights Association alerts:

Be Aware and Remain Safe!

The 84th Precinct notified the BHA today that four crimes have been committed in the Heights since the second week of June. Cell phones were taken in two incidents, a purse stolen in a third, and last night the victim resisted and was slashed. These crimes have occurred on Henry Street between Montague and Clark Streets and on Hicks Street near Love Lane, all between 7:30 PM and 11:15 PM. The police believe the same perpetrator – and in one incident, two persons – is involved and has been using the Clark Street station. The police are asking Heights residents to take reasonable precautions: refrain from using your cell phone at night on the street, be aware of your surroundings, and if possible, walk with others. Extra police details – both uniformed and plain clothed – have been assigned to streets in the north Heights and to the Clark Street station.

Exercise situational awareness!

Be safe everyone; that text can wait, whether you’re walking or driving.

 

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  • Teresa
  • Teresa

    In what way? And I ask that not to be difficult, but because I think it’s a complex question/issue.

  • Concerned

    It’s victim blaming and something that we shouldn’t have to put up with. You want to turn a blind eye to crime and blame the victim for not being “careful” enough. It’s wrong. It’s akin to saying a woman shouldn’t be out late at night with a short skirt on or she should expect something to happen to her. It’s NOT common sense.

  • Concerned

    Is it safer? Is it more pleasant to walk on? Is it better to live on?

  • redlola

    Sure we can split hairs on types, but the point still stands. BK heights was not a “top dollar” community years ago.In fact, realtors have told me that during Bush 1 recession, a three bedroom in the lovely Mansion House building went for $100,000 which was considered a gift. I have met people who moved here when it was neither safe or lovely and they are way more forgiving of the new normal than ppl who paid a mil for a 2 bedroom. Not sure though why anyone would view an uptick in crime, traffic (especially down one little narrow street), etc, as plusses. BK Heights is far from being a bad place to live, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be concerned about clearly negative patterns that are emerging and stand to change the character of this neighborhood for the worse.

  • Teresa

    I am saying nothing of the sort. I was pointing out advice that police, local and otherwise, have given for nearly a decade. The only people responsible for crime are criminals, but the police offer suggestions for ways to reduce the likelihood of being a crime victim.

  • Teresa

    Hold on for a long response.

    I don’t live there, so I can’t say. I can say that this letter was recently published in the NYT– http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/opinion/brooklyn-parks-gift-diversity.html?_r=0

    Two people’s opinions, added to the others that have been expressed here.

    Since the park opened, I’ve spent a lot of time in it at all times of day, and I usually exit at Joralemon St. I found it to be most unpleasant, unmanageable, and crowded on Smorgasburg days. Most other times I’m there, there’s some foot traffic, but it doesn’t seem excessive.

    I recall many incidents of theft in that part of the neighborhood, muggings, snatch/grab, etc. over the years. Local schools have warned students to keep valuables out of sight and walk in groups. I don’t feel any more or less safe walking around there now than I have before.

    One person’s experiences. My car was also broken into twice in the neighborhood, long before the Park opened. Once on Columbia Heights, once (I think) on Clark St.

  • Teresa

    Not a fan of increased crime or traffic. But I love the Park, and I love the influx of people from all over the world and the city that come here because of it and for other reasons, and the business it brings to the small businesses in the neighborhood. All positives, in my opinion. Shared by at least one couple on Joralemon Street. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/24/opinion/brooklyn-parks-gift-diversity.html?_r=0

  • Concerned

    You don’t say this directly. But when others say “Let’s stop this crime”, all you seem to offer is 1) this crime has been around for years and 2) better watch your back and try not to be a victim, here are the “common sense” (i.e. ways to live in and accept fear in our neighborhood) solutions.

  • Teresa

    I am happy to be more explicit to avoid being misinterpreted. There seems to be a sense that crime didn’t exist here before the Park opened, and that’s not true.I am trying to offer a perspective that might help to reduce the demonizing of the Park and its users by pointing out that for some time, we have been warned about crime in the neighborhood.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    Not at all! More like when someone comes up to you and tells you you’re stupid so in return you ask them what’s really bothering them and offer to help. You’re welcome to interpret it any way you like, of course, but from the outside it probably all seems rather comical.

  • redlola

    I agree with the overall benefits of the park but the planning for access leaves a lot to be desired. i don’t feel that we need to condone or excuse the BS that has also come from this. If that would stop, it would be gravy. It grinds my gears to see some of my neighbors become apologists for bad behavior that can threaten the enjoyment of the majority.

  • redlola

    also,as far as the couple’s view..that’s nice and all but pretty sure my friend’s 80 year old mother whose friends were intimidated and harassed on their way to see her on joralemon would disagree. diversity is good. crime is not. i am happy to remove any element diverse or otherwise that impedes enjoyment for the rest – color notwithstanding.

  • redlola

    that in an of itself is condescending. if i ever called you stupid – which i never have – it would be because i really thought you were stupid not because anything was wrong (other than what i perceived as stupidity) or needed help or a friend. In most cases., i comment on what i observe as thought processes implicit in some of your responses rather than you as an overall person.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    What you interpret as condescension is me trying to look past your mean comments and understand what you’re really so upset about. It can’t possibly be just disagreeing. Any grownup can do that with civility, right?

    “you need less free time” – 7 hours ago
    “get over yourself” – 8 hours ago
    “your appetite for denial is surreal” – 9 hours ago
    “your idiotic assertions” – a month ago
    etc.

    It’s one thing to point out “this suggestion doesn’t take into account factors X, Y, and Z, and here’s why.” But your preference seems to be to chime in and instead say something like “this suggestion is idiotic”. No further comment. (I still want to know whether you disagree with the notion that the likelihood of crime occurring is correlated to the size of an interaction between a slice of the population [A] containing both low and other levels of socioeconomic status with a slice of the population [B] containing medium to high levels of socioeconomic status. I think that as A increases in size and frequency, so will the occurrence of crime. Do you disagree?)

    Meanwhile, I’m sincerely wondering: do you address other adults this way in person? If someone makes a suggestion you think contains some logical, practical, or statistical fallacy, do you call their assertions idiotic, tell them to get over themselves when they question your tone, and then leave the subject matter sitting on the table? Please do answer, these aren’t rhetorical questions. I’d urge you to take a careful look at your own conduct here.

    To come back to an earlier point you mentioned about my free time–and thanks again for that–I like reading and commenting on this blog because, like the Brooklyn Heights outside my window, this is where my neighbors are, the people with whom I enjoy interacting and being friendly; neighborly, if you will. I’m not arguing with anonymous trolls on Buzzfeed listicle comment threads, I’m talking to people I may very well interact with on a daily basis in person. That’s at the forefront of my mind every time I write–and I type quickly, by the way, so don’t worry, the time investment isn’t great–and I hope you give it some thought too.

    I’ll see you and your family at the playground, on the promenade, perhaps walking past the former Banana Republic or at Brooklyn Conservatory concerts in Plymouth Church, and at other beloved spots, and I’ll be one of several men smiling warmly, making little jokes if something funny happens, and wishing you a good afternoon. THAT is how this mind works, implicitly or otherwise.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    Hah! A clarification, not a lesson. I’d have to know what I was doing in order to teach, right? :)

  • redlola

    you have a habit of overlooking remarks you make of a similar nature that often result in the response you get. i have pointed the specifics out in several posts so no need to rehash. you should take a closer look at your own communication style before pointing fingers elsewhere. i do not need you to worry about how i deal with people in real life. all you need to consider is what you are saying that may be prompting the reaction you get and whether you are perhaps reading too much into statements that others would not be so sensitive about. However, to answer your questions – i am actually not mad about anything. my emotions are more like concern about my surroundings (i live very close to where this slashing occurred and close enough to Henry and 2/3), annoyance at the apologist tendencies of some on here and when it comes to you, annoyance at what I perceive as you continuously acting like the victim when a rock you threw comes back in your face. You have made plenty of snide and condescending remarks to me so the victim thing doesn’t wash. As far as the the proportion argument, the proportion of people interested in stealing our phones, etc. would decrease if the basketball courts were not there. this is not all people of a certain race or even socioeconomic status (let’s not assume all these kids are poor) but an age group and a mindset. So however the math adds up, if the end result is what has been happening, I am going to have an issue with it. My position is that it is perfectly easy to enjoy the courts without creating trouble and if you cannot do that, then you do not need to enjoy the courts. That is not to suggest that the courts should close, it is to suggest that no excuses or passes will be made or given by me period. However, back to you and me. We clearly have innate personality differences that make us rub each other the wrong way. It’s probably astrological. Shit happens.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    I don’t buy this “innate personality differences” stuff. Not because I’m compulsive (perhaps I am! but in other ways), but because it seems like a cop-out, especially online, where we only have our words. I bet we’d get along great in person, because I’m also willing to bet you’re friendlier when you’re not concentrating on your anger about the neighborhood. My comments about you needing a friend were appealing to the off-chance that in fact you’re the same way face-to-face. But to the subject of the neighborhood, I think you and I can work through our differences if we concentrate on the subject matter and do so in a respectful way. Perhaps you missed my earlier comment, where I agreed with most of what you wrote regarding the park and crime? An acknowledgement of that might be a good start, ahem! ;)

  • redlola

    yes, i should have acknowledged it. it was definitely a departure from the norm so thank you. i do believe people can just not get along. i’ve divested from worrying about why. also to reiterate, i am not angry about the neighborhood. concerned yes and disappointed in the apologism, but not angry. all that said, i am happy to try to work on our relationship :).

  • Concerned

    Respectfully, I believe your sense that others believe crime didn’t exist before the park is way off base. No one thinks Brooklyn Heights was, is, or ever will be perfect. And no one blames the park for EVERY crime.
    But simply because the BBP isn’t responsible for EVERY crime, doesn’t mean it’s not to blame (in some part) for some crimes.
    Can you remember before the BBP, a time when Joralemon street had large groups of unruly teens escorted (multiple times) up Joralemon street by police cars having to go the wrong way? Do you remember a time where there was a place in or around the neighborhood that drew crowds that brought and used guns? Do you remember a time where joggers and mothers and bikers in our neighborhood had to worry about being slapped, pushed and assaulted for no reason? I could go on and on.
    Personally, I like the park in a lot of ways, but I won’t turn a blind eye to the problems it brings that need to be addressed.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    Thank you.

  • Teresa

    There was a murder in 2010 that sure gave me pause. http://gothamist.com/2010/08/02/man_shot_twice_on_brooklyn_heights.php

    There was this shooting that made being in the subway at the wrong place/time a scary thing. http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/73864

    And this stabbing on Montague Street: http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/70632

    This “scallywag” story (scroll down) made me cautious about walking around the neighborhood.

    So, yes, I can remember a number of times that crime in the neighborhood gave me pause. There are also the many break-ins that have been reported over the years.

    As you note that some mothers are concerned about crime in the park, note, too, that some families are also fighting to keep the pop-up pool, a sign, it would seem, that they feel safe there.

    You’re right: I don’t see the uptick in crime as being as significant as you do. Crime in any circumstances is regrettable, but I don’t think the Park and the overwhelming majority of its users deserve the opprobrium they get. I think they’re being scapegoated, and I think that we all still live in an incredibly safe neighborhood.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    We had a neighborhood watch, back in the eighties. It was mostly a PR stunt as they couldn’t do anything but call the regular cops, via walkie-talkie and they had to ride in a car with an revolving yellow light on the roof that was always on. Needless to say, it wasn’t very effective.

  • Concerned

    WOW!!!! That’s really what you’re going to do to support your argument? Of course there have been crimes in the past. No one is disputing that.
    And, I also agree we still live in a very safe neighborhood.
    And I think it’s very disingenuous of you to try to say that because people want to swim means that all those people aren’t concerned about an “uptick” in crime. These are people just trying to live their lives.
    Well, at least I truly see your view, now. I guess I was right about it, but at least we had this civil discourse to clear some things up.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    Then you disagree with the dictionary?

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    I have.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlsiLOnWCoI Arch Stanton

    Not much in the near future. Besides, do you really want to add alcohol to the conversation?

  • redlola

    to the current crop or the mythical ones of yore? as far as the definition, hard-pressed to define someone who occasionally squats on a public bench in a train station my neighbor. hence the disagreement.

  • Michael

    Arch, disappointing, and cowardly.

  • Michael

    Ah ok, I guess since something was done poorly 30 years ago it is a bad idea. Still waiting for anything constructive from you? Aside from a ny times article for 1989.

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