Greetings to all members of the Juniper Park Civic Association! We wish to take this opportunity to address the recent concerns regarding quality of life and the crime patterns observed in Maspeth and Middle Village.
Throughout the 104th Precinct, we have a decrease of overall crime by 15.7% for the year-to-date period and an increase of 3.6% for the 28-day period. To speak on Middle Village more specifically, we have seen an overall decrease of 16.1% for the year-to-date. The trend of decreasing crime continues in Maspeth, which has seen an incredible decrease of 20.5% for the year-to-date period. The reduction in crime of both areas is a testament to the incredible work that the 104th Precinct Officers do day in and day out.

We would like to make our neighbors aware that there are significant concerns regarding mail theft and United States Postal Service relay mailboxes. Although we have apprehended several individuals involved in mail theft, we continue to strongly recommend that the public avoid using corner mailboxes. These mailboxes are susceptible to tampering and theft by those seeking to access private information from the mail inside. While it may cause some inconvenience, the safest choice for the public is to visit their local post office and personally hand their mail to a postal employee at the counter. We also urge that the mailboxes located in front of the Post Office be avoided, as they are often targets for theft.

The NYPD’s Crime Prevention Division is dedicated to keeping the public updated on evolving scams. Scammers often employ a variety of tactics to target unsuspecting individuals. These scams can range from a simple text about an unpaid E-Z Pass toll, an email regarding a missed delivery from a courier, a phone call impersonating the IRS, to an unexpected visit from someone claiming to be a utility representative. Scams can manifest in numerous ways, making it essential to remain vigilant, as appearances can be deceiving. Please remember to never click on any links in a text or email and never give out your personal information. After receiving any call, message, or unexpected visit, it is important to verify directly with the respective company.

As we welcome the warmer months, we will continue to address the quality of life issues throughout our local parks. In order to best serve you, we encourage residents to continue using the 311 system to report any concerns related to our parks. It is often said that our parks serve as the New York City’s backyard, and our wish is that they may be enjoyed safely and responsibly. Along with the nice weather also comes the onset of fireworks. We recognize that Juniper Valley Park and surrounding areas have historically been favored locations for fireworks displays, and my Officers and Supervisors are informed of this; we will be patrolling the area to help mitigate this issue.

We understand that loud music and large gatherings have become a disruption to the community. We have already begun issuing summonses and seizing speakers that contribute to disruptive noise during late evenings and early mornings, and we will persist in addressing this concern related to quality of life. We request that our neighbors use the 311 system to assist us in identifying the sources of loud noise in our area. When using the 311 system, please provide the location where you think the noise originates, as this assists us in directing our attention to the approximate vicinity.

We would like to wish everyone a Happy Independence Day as we remember all those who sacrificed their lives for our country. We enjoyed seeing everyone at the Memorial Day Parades in Glendale and Maspeth! Please feel free to write or call the precinct with any issues you may have.