Crime & Safety

Cops: Gang Activity Down After Nov. Arrests

Police have seen a noticeable drop in gang-related crimes in North and West Babylon.

After a slew of shootings during the last third of 2012, Suffolk County Police say gang activity in areas of North and West Babylon in the last month after November arrests.

"We really haven't seen anyone since the arrests," noted First Precinct Inspector Gerard Gigante at the recent community meeting, citing he thought the officers arrested the right men.

Gang related crimes, including three drive-by shootings, picked up from a period from late August to late September in an area of northern West Babylon, near the North Babylon/Wyandanch border.

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The first shooting, in the early hours of August 24th, left one man, , dead just yards from his home on Centerwood Street.

Two other shootings within blocks of Centerwood Street occured on September 17th and 26th. Those shootings left multiple men with gunshot wounds and neighbors wondering what had happened to their usually quiet community.

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Gigante said Suffolk County Police arrested a number of men in November in connection with the shootings.

"There haven't been any issued since about October," Gigante said. "There's always some activity, but they're not always active."

He said later that cold weather seems to help lower any activity on the streets, simply keeping people indoors and away from any potential problems.

"I'd say we're doing a pretty good job here," he said.

Gigante said the precinct would keep an eye on the area for future activity in the coming months.


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