This week we asked readers about the latest NYPD statistics that show overall crime is down, but homicides, shootings and rapes are all up substantially.

I think it’s worse than ever. I’m going to be honest with you, I was telling people it seems like we’re going back to the ‘90s a little bit, when something was always happening in every neighborhood. It wasn’t just pinpointed in one area, it’s just everywhere now. They need to have more cops patrolling on foot, not driving by. They need to walk through neighborhoods that they know violence is happening and drugs being sold. I use to live in Bedford Park and back in the day it used to be safe, but now it’s back.
Anthony Correa
New Rochelle (works at Montefiore)

I actually do believe that the streets of Norwood are safer. I’m actually out here every single day working. Sometimes I do come out at night to go to the stores or go to the bank; this is my area. I can’t really say anything about the rapes. I do know there are occasional stabbings in certain areas around here where they sell drugs and I don’t want to say turf wars are not necessarily gang-related. People that live in the area tend to try and make money together and when other people come from different areas and steal money from other people’s pockets, that’s when people retaliate.
Alberto Cedano
Norwood

Unfortunately, we are facing a major depression that people don’t realize yet so jobs are scarce, mental illness is a problem, suicide rate is up and a lot of people need help. There’s a lot of guns out here, a lot of drugs, legal and illegal. Aside from this morning’s shooting, overall my biggest complaint is parking and noise complaints in the area. I see more of a police presence with officers on foot patrol, but most precincts don’t have the manpower, so they use vehicles. But now with the new Neighborhood Coordination Officer program, they are working together with the community trying to lower crime. Yes, I think it’s working.
Lamont Parker
Van Cortland Park South

I often go shopping along Fordham Road with my sister, but I feel that during the summer things get a little wild so I try not to go out on days when it’s crowded. I try and go out on days when I know not too many people are going to be around.  I do get a sense there are more murders from the newspapers and we’ve heard of some other gang-related type things. It’s frightening, but it’s a way of life here in the Bronx.
Maria Ayala
Fordham

Crime seems to escalate during the summer months when more people are out and around and I guess that’s an invite for those that are criminals to set on their prey. Everybody is being watched, so it’s very easy for them to pick a prey. Crime down? Only in the winter when [the streets] are isolated. I’m all over the city and I do see the police and they are out…basically in the white neighborhoods and in the low-income areas. I don’t see them and a lot can happen when they’re not around.
Robert Knight, Jr.
Van Nest