Deputy Inspector Paul Vorbeck With the first quarter of 2009 entering its last week, crime in the 114th Precinct is down more than 12 percent for the last 28 days, Deputy Inspector Paul Vorbeck, commanding officer of the 114th precinct, said.

Vorbeck, speaking at the March meeting of the 114th Precinct Community Council, said felonious assaults are down 20 percent, grand larcenies are down more than 18 percent, and stolen cars are down more than 27 percent for the last 28 days. Year to date, Vorbeck cited stolen vehicle incidents are down 38 percent.

Although robberies are up 4.5 percent for the 28-day period, the figure represents an increase of 1 incident, from 22 robberies in 2008 to 23 in 2009 for the 28-day period ending March 22.

Vorbeck said burglaries remained flat (at 38 incidents) for the 28-day period in the precinct, and are down over 12 percent year to date. "Things are clearly going in the right direction in our precinct," he said.

Within Community Board 1, which includes the 114th Precinct, 82 percent of respondents to a recent poll said they felt very safe or somewhat safe when asked, "How safe would you feel walking alone on a street in your neighborhood at night?"

Crime is down 10.65 percent, year to date, and by almost 50 percent since 2001 in the 114th Precinct. The precinct CompStat report is available at nyc.gov.

Police Officer Jonathan Montauredes, recipient of Cop-of-the-Month honors for February, was praised by Vorbeck for his alert action on Friday, February 27.

"At approximately 4 p.m., P.O. Montauredes, working in uniform in a marked patrol car, received a call," Vorbeck said. The 911 call reported an attempted apartment burglary by two individuals.

Montauredes responded immediately, but when he arrived at the location both suspects were already gone. Two eyewitnesses were able to give him enough information to "get a general direction of flight", said Vorbeck.

Conducting a canvass of the area, Montauredes thought the two suspects could be hiding in Rainey Park, and in fact, found them doing just that. They were arrested after a positive identification was made identifying them as the suspects wanted for breaking into the apartment.

"[Suspects] are in jail and were found to have an extensive criminal history," said Vorbeck, noting the decline in burglaries in the precinct was "due in great part to police officers like Jonathan Montauredes".

The two accused individuals live outside the 114th but within the Patrol Queens Borough North command. The Queens District Attorney's Office told Montauredes they're seeking the maximum punishment of 5 to 15 years in prison.

Montauredes has worked at the 114th Precinct for four years since graduating from the Police Academy. "When I came to the 114th, I was told the Community Council supports the police officers," he said. "I realized that right away." He also thanked his partner and fellow officers in the command.