Crime on the streets of Flatbush is down in six of the seven major felony crime categories and off nearly 24 percent for the year – with robbery down a staggering 42 percent for the year.

So far in 2009 there have been 102 reported robberies in the 70th Precinct, as compared to 175 at this time last year.

“This is the most impressive, because it means there were 73 less of these crimes than there were last year,” said Dep. Inspector Ralph Monteforte, commanding officer of the 70th Precinct.

Monteforte credited a total team effort from cops in the precinct for bringing the number of robberies down, giving special praise to the narcotics unit — and to youth officers, as many robberies are from youth−on−youth thefts of small electronics like iPods.

Felony assault is down about 28 percent with 82 reported incidents thus far this year as compared to 114 at this time in 2008.

Burglary is down a little more than 16 percent with 109 reported incidents so far in 2009 as compared to 130 at this time last year.

Grand larceny is down 18 percent with 200 reported incidents so far this year as compared to 244 at this time last year.

The only crime that is up in the precinct is auto theft with 59 reported incidents so far this year as compared to 53 at this time last year.

Monteforte said gun arrest incidents are even for the year as compared to last year with 14, but often several arrests are made in one incident where a gun is taken off the streets.

Shootings are down 28 percent with five reported incidents so far this year compared to seven at this time last year.

(Source: Your Nabe)