Crime by the numbers

Crime by the numbers Police records show an increase in violent incidents locally, but some types of illegal activity are on the decline. By Lorraine Gennaro Violent crime is up all over the city, and South Police Division is no exception.

The good news is that the incidents — at least in these parts — are not up by all that much. And compared to this time last year, there’s been a decrease in certain types of crimes.

South Police Division is comprised of four districts: the First, Third, Fourth and 17th. The division experienced a 12-percent increase in crime last month, officials said at an Aug. 5 police COMPSTAT meeting.

COMPSTAT was developed by the New York City Police Department. Former Police Commissioner John F. Timoney introduced the concept to the Philadelphia Police Department when he took charge in 1998.

COMPSTAT meets weekly in the auditorium of the Police Academy; each of the four citywide police divisions reviews its statistics on a scheduled date.

Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, his four deputy commissioners, chief inspectors and inspectors and commanders from Homicide, Special Victims, Highway Patrol, Major Crimes and other units collect, analyze and map crime data and other essential police performance measures. Strategies are discussed and then implemented on the street.

Gunpoint robberies and residential burglaries were the two main offenders driving up crime in South Division.

Deputy Commissioner Patricia Giorgio-Fox acknowledged the surge in violence last month in Grays Ferry, in the 17th Police District, as another contributing factor.

In addition to stepping up patrols — especially at 23rd and Tasker streets — the 17th District has received help from the Narcotics Strike Force and Highway Patrol to help quell the violence. Police have 24-hour patrols set up at hot spots such as 27th and Dickinson and Stanley and Tasker streets (the 1500 block of Stanley Street and 3100 block of Tasker Street), said Capt. Jerrold Bates of the 17th District.

No shootings were reported in Grays Ferry over the last two weeks. And while the 17th continues to lead South Division with the highest number of crimes reported, violent crime in the district continues to decline, police said.

However, last month the 17th District reported 20 shootings, up from eight in June, Bates said. Of the 20, 18 occurred out in the open, 13 from midnight to 8 a.m.

Out of 20 shootings, officers made five arrests — two for Grays Ferry shootings, Bates said.

Police also served 45 arrest warrants and confiscated 23 firearms, including 10 in Grays Ferry, added the captain.

The Fourth Police District reported five shootings last month. Most were the result of fights, said Fourth District Capt. Ray Convery.

Drugs continue to plague certain parts of the Fourth District, with street sales a big problem all along Seventh Street, police said.

Investigators served two warrants in the district and attempted to serve nine others.

Gunpoint robberies doubled from five in June to 10 in July in the Third District. But other types of holdups were down nearly half from June to July.

The First District also was plagued by gunpoint robberies. Fifteen were reported in July, more than double the number in June. Most of the burglaries occurred on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, said Capt. Carmen Vuotto of the First District. Three arrests were made in the cases and two warrants have been issued for other suspects.

First District police have noticed a pattern of males riding bicycles and robbing people. Patrols have been stepped up to combat the robberies, Vuotto noted.

South Division logged two homicides from July 2-29, said Homicide Capt. Richard Ross. Both occurred in the 17th District — one on July 4, the other on July 6.

Nine rapes were reported in South Division last month, said Capt. John Darby of the Special Victims Unit. Seven of the victims knew their attackers. Investigators made two arrests, the captain said.

Statistics provided by the Police Department’s Research and Planning Unit.

Painting the town safe

Face-painting, food and music put a fun spin on a serious cause Aug. 3 as the community celebrated National Night Out. Local townwatch Claws for Justice and the South Philadelphia Communities Civic Association held the gathering at Marconi Plaza, Broad and Oregon, in a show of strength against crime. Aside from partying, residents also gleaned information from a number of agencies that set up booths at the event. Police and other officials were on hand to answer questions. The highlight of the evening was a police helicopter landing right in the park, much to the delight of curious youngsters.