Nov. 11, 2016 By Domenick Rafter
A string of assaults on elderly residents in Forest Hills have some residents on edge and police working to find the culprits.
Captain Robert Ramos, commanding officer of the 112th Precinct, told Community Board 6 Wednesday night that there were several includes since mid-October where elderly people have been targeted while walking in public.
On Oct. 29, an 85-year-old woman was robbed in broad daylight on 72nd Road while walking home from a synagogue. In another incident, an elderly man walking on 63rd Road got into an altercation with another man after the senior citizen grabbed a woman the man was walking with as he tripped and fell in the street. The woman fell with him and the man, apparently out of anger, attacked the older gentleman.
“Both incidents happened in the middle of the afternoon,” Ramos said.
A board member brought another assault issue to Ramos’ attention: A woman on Queens Boulevard was attacked by an apparent homeless woman after the resident asked the homeless woman if she needed help. Ramos said that while altercations with homeless people are not common, he has noticed a problem with homeless in the community.
“I am seeing a rise in the homeless population in the 112,” he said, adding that cops often try to help homeless people living in the street seek shelter.
Despite the assaults, Ramos said the crime was down 5 percent in the precinct this year compared to 2015 at this point. There have been double digit drops in felony assault, burglary and car thefts.
Residents who want to bring up any crime or quality of life-related issues to the precinct can attend the 112th Precinct Community Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at the precinct at Austin Street and Yellowstone Boulevard.
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