The news is good for residents in the 114th Precinct, where major crimes plummeted an overall 11 percent since this time last year.

Police at the Astoria Boulevard stationhouse managed to keep a check on crime in neighborhoods throughout Astoria and Long Island City despite an economic downturn which historically sends crime stats soaring, authorities said.

Burglaries were down by 19.8 percent in the precinct area, while auto thefts plummeted a whopping 32.9 percent through the first half of 2009, Deputy Inspector Paul Vorbeck 114th Precinct commanding officer, said.

Police and area residents also helped put the kabosh on the kaboom throughout the precinct area this July 4 holiday weekend, Vorbeck said.

Residents weren't shy when it came to calling 911 to report illegal use of fireworks in the 114th Precinct, where police made four separate seizures of the illegal explosives. Five people were nabbed either selling or setting off illegal fireworks, Vorbeck said. Each was issued a summons returnable to Queens Criminal Court.

Police were highly visible in the 114th Precinct over the July 4 holiday weekend and served as a deterrent that turned down the boom of exploding fireworks, Vorbeck said.

"We called in additional personnel to patrol over the weekend to address concerns voiced by area residents," Vorbeck said. "We also worked with local Housing Police and with the NYPD Queens North Task Force to coordinate fireworks enforcement.

"Our response and presence made a significant impact on the use of illegal fireworks and other holiday-related criminal activity in the precinct."

—Liz Goff