According to the latest CompStat reports released yesterday by the NYPD, the number of crimes reported in the borough were down compared to the same one-week period last year – 687 major crimes were reported during the period from November 9 through November 15; 764 major crimes were reported in the same one week period last year.

The overall decrease in crime offsets an increase in auto thefts during the past week.  The NYPD reported that 94 vehicles were reported stolen in Brooklyn, compared to 74 during the same one week period last year.  In Brooklyn South, 53 auto thefts were reported, compared to 43 last year; there were 41 reports of Auto Theft in Brooklyn North, compared to 31 last year.

The most notable increases in auto thefts occured in the 63rd (3 last week compared to none during the same period last year), 64th (4 last week, up from 1), 70th (7 last week, up from 4), and 81st (3 last week, up from 1) precincts.

The number of felony assaults increased slightly; 110 such incidents were reported last week compared to 107 during the same one week period last year.

The number of burglary, robbery, and grand larceny (theft) complaints saw double digit decreases.  Burglaries decreased 22.7 percent (133, down from 172), robberies decreased 15.4 percent (143, down from 169), and grand larceny complaints decreased 14.5 percent (196, down from 229).

The number of homicides reported decreased from 2 reported borough-wide during the past week, compared to 4 reported during the same period last year.  The homicides were reported in the 73rd and 79th precincts.

Fewer rapes were reported in Brooklyn North (5, down from 7), however, Brooklyn South reported two more rapes compared to last year (4, up from 2).

Even with the increase in auto thefts, major felony crimes have decreased 12.2 percent overall year-to-date in Brooklyn compared to the first 46 weeks of 2008.

Surveillance photo of Chase Bank robbery suspect; 84th Precinct (NYPD Crimestoppers)

A man wanted in connection with a Downtown bank robbery last month has been classified as the “most wanted” bank robber in New York by the NYPD.

Detectives from the 84th Precinct are investigating a robbery that occured at the Chase Bank at DeKalb Avenue and Fleet Street on October 26 at around 3:45 p.m.  The suspect approached the teller with a demand note and recieved an unknown amount of U.S. currency before fleeing the bank on foot.

The suspect is described as a black male between 25 and 30 years old, standing approximately 6 feet to 6 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs approxmately 250 pounds, and sported a beard at the time of the robbery.  He was wearing a blue Mets baseball cap, a blue hooded jacket, a black shirt and black pants.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, text “TIP577″ with your information to “CRIMES” (274637), or submit your information online.  All information will be kept confidential.

Rasheem Williams, 37, and two other fugitives wanted by the NYPD were arrested over the weekend after a tip led investigators from the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Police Department and the U.S. Marshall’s Service to a residence on the 800 block of Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount.

Williams had been accused of two June muggings at two Brooklyn subway stations among the 15 he had been accused of committing.  The incidents primarily occured in Manhattan and The Bronx, however at least one also occured in Queens.

The first incident occured on June 8 at around 7:25 p.m., when Williams allegedly approached a woman on a Manhattan-bound #3 train at the Bergen Street station, Park Slope.  In that incident, he brandished a knife and fled with an unknown amount of U.S. currency.

On June 23 at around 1:45 p.m., Williams allegedly approached a woman on a Brooklyn-bound #2 train at the Church Avenue station, Flatbush.  As was the case in the Park Slope mugging, Williams brandished a knife and demanded money from the woman.  He then fled with the victim’s property at the Beverly Road station.

Williams was tagged as the “Red Sox Bandit” by the tabloids after one photo during the search showed him wearing a Red Sox baseball cap.

Williams, who has 18 prior arrests and has also served eight years upstate for a prior robbery conviction, was taken into custody along with two other men – Jamal Williams, who was also identified as one of the NYPD’s most wanted, and Michael Lewis, who was wanted on parole violations.  No further information is known about the other two fugitives.

It’s also not known why Williams fled to North Carolina.  Anyone who has ever watched the A&E television series “Manhunters” – a show that profiles the U.S. Marshall’s Fugitive Task Force – may recall an episode where a fugitive from the New York area was subsequently apprehended in North Carolina.  For some reason, the Carolinas would seem to be a very popular destination for fugitives fleeing the area (maybe it’s the lower taxes down there, who knows?).

In any event, it’s probably safe to say that this member of Red Sox Nation will have a new home in a matter of weeks, pending extradition back to New York – a nice little spot we like to call Rikers Island.