BY: SOFIA CANONGE
Queens District 2, encompassing the neighborhoods of Long Island City, Woodside, and Sunnyside, is grappling with a surge in robberies—the highest rate increase among all northern Queens.
The 108th precinct, which covers the District 2 area, reported an alarming 100% increase in the most recent week available–eight incidents between November 6th to November 12th, up from four incidents in the comparable week in 2022. The year-to-date statistics are equally alarming, with a 36% surge, rising from 169 robberies in 2022 to 230 in 2023.
One of the latest incidents occurred on November 24th near Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside, where two masked robbers approached three men in front of a corner store and displayed a gun. The robbers forcibly stole $10,000 and a checkbook from the victims and then fled the scene on a moped.
Another incident, first reported by the Daily News, occurred on October 23rd, where two men were violently robbed and assaulted for $34,000 cash during an international currency exchange on a Long Island City street. The men were standing on 24th street, speaking with the contact they had arranged to meet to exchange United States currency to Chinese currency, when suddenly they were attacked from behind and aggressively mugged.
The spike of robberies has left residents of the district on edge, prompting concerns about the safety of their communities. “We used to feel safe walking around the neighborhood even at times during the night. But now we hear of many robberies or assaults, and it worries me and my family to go out like before,” said Aimee Rosario, 32, a Sunnyside resident.
Some residents attribute the rise to what they perceive as a lack of proper police presence and patrol in the area. They believe that a more visible law enforcement presence could act as a deterrent and contribute to a better overall safety of the community.
“I’ve noticed fewer patrol cars around this year, and I feel criminals are getting bolder because of this, thinking they could get away with everything,” said Johnathan Byrne, 55, from Woodside. “We definitely need more police visibility to help scare them away from our neighborhood.”
The 108th precinct couldn’t be reached for comment on the probable causes behind the concerning surge in robberies in the district.
However, Mohammad Hossen, a member of the Queens Community Board 2, responsible for City Services and Public Safety in Woodside, acknowledged the rising concerns in an interview.
“The increase in robberies is certainly troubling, and we are actively reaching out to the NYPD to address the issue,” said Hossen. “It’s a collaborative effort, but the community board ensures residents that we are committed to enhancing the security of their neighborhoods as soon as possible.”
As the community grapples with this surge in robberies, residents are hopeful that efforts between law enforcement, local and city officials, will lead to effective measures to curb the rising numbers in Queens District 2.
“Unfortunately, our safety depends on our authorities, so we can only hope they will come up with something soon and we can live with less fear in the streets.” said Rosario.