Subway Crime Up 18 Percent From Last Year

Subway crime has risen by 18 percent this year as compared with the same period of 2011, according to the latest NYPD data as reported by NBC New York.

For the first four months of 2012, there have been 876 major crimes reported in the subways, such as rapes, murders, robberies, assaults, burglaries and grand larcenies. By this point in 2011, 741 major crimes were reported, a significantly lower amount. 

The spike is being driven by sharp increases in robberies and grand larcenies, according to NYPD statistics, NBC New York reported. 

Robberies are up from 231 instances in the first four months of 2011 to 294 in the first four months of 2012, an increase of 27 percent, NBC reported. Grand larcenies increased from 438 in the first four months of last year to 518 in the first four months of 2012, NBC continued. 

This comes as no surprise in the 70th precinct, which includes Ditmas Park, which has seen a number of electronic thefts in recent months, according to Deputy Inspector Eric Rodriguez. 

Rodriguez said at 70th Precinct Community Council to be mindful of using electronics on the subway. "If you have earphones in your ears, you're not paying attention to what's around you," Rodriguez said. 

Still, this hasn't stopped residents from using cell phones and iPods while commuting. In  an approximately half-hour period, almost every single person who came and went from the train stations on Newkirk Avenue and Cortelyou Road had earbuds in their ears and cell phones in their hands. 

Julia Rispoli, a resident of Ditmas Park, said that she openly uses electronics on the train and has never encountered any problems, but nevertheless is wary of taking the train at night. 

"Nobody has ever bothered me, but I only take the train in the day," Rispoli said. "[At night] I'll ask a friend to drive me home or take car service."

"I use [my phone] on the train, but have been told it's not safe," said Dorel L., a resident of Ditmas Park. "I've never had anything stolen." 

One woman who was rushing to catch her train at the Cortelyou Road Station didn't have time for a lengthy conversation, but did manage to yell behind her, "No, I don't use electronics on the train-- I want to be safe!"