What Crime's Going Down in Downtown Brooklyn?

Ah! Downtown Brooklyn, part of the 84^th Precinct, home of Brooklyn Heights, Boreum and Vinegar Hills, the Farragut Residences, courts and crime.

Your NYPD year-to-date crime stats are looking a little worse this year than last year. 2009 - 580 crimes; 2010 - 598 crimes.

Here's a little rundown of crimes going down Downtown recently and tips to prevent them from going down on you.

Aug 29, 12:30 am, Nevins and Bergen Sts. - A thug threatened two ladies with a knife and absconded with their bags. In the bags - credit cards, cellphones, sunglasses, gift cards, and more totaling $972.

Tip: Ladies, never carry valuables in your bags. Let a purse snatcher get makeup, tampons, and cheap stuff only. That'll fix him. Carry valuables in your pocket, bra, boot, garter, etc. Only carry what you need per trip. Shades on the front of your blouse, belt, or a neck chain.

Aug 29, 6 pm, Joralemon St. - A fitness fellow left his iPhone, $20 bucks, and two credit cards in his locker at the Equinox Fitness Club, unlocked. They got jacked.

Tip: Need I say it? Lock up!. Never leave your stuff unlocked or unattended. It's NYC.

Aug 28, 2 am, Park Bench @ Court and Montague - A panhandler hit-up a guy sitting on a park bench for $2. Mr. Good Samaritan whipped out his wallet and became a victim for it got snatched.

Tip: Never expose your wallet or cash for panhandlers. Tell them all, "Sorry, no cash." They can go to social services for help and get much more than your couple of bucks. Also, don't sit on park benches all alone at 2 am. A crime might happen.

There's a little rundown, Downtown Brooklyn. Use your head and these tips to keep crime down.

Sources:

NYPD, Compstat, Police Department City of New York

Stephen Brown, Police Blotter, The Brooklyn Paper