LI Crime Briefs

INWOOD/Hempstead man faces burglary charges

A Hempstead man faces burglary charges after a witness saw him break into an Inwood home, Fourth Squad detectives said Tuesday.

Nassau County police said Rene Figueroa, 24, of 38 Sammis Pl., entered a home on Bernard Street Monday at about 11:50 a.m. by breaking a window on the side of the house. Figueroa stole a laptop computer, jewelry, cash, keys and an iPod before running away, police said.

During an investigation, police were able to get a description of the suspect from a witness. Police then found him getting into a taxi on Caryl Street and Mott Avenue around 1:20 p.m., where he was arrested.

Figueroa also was found to have marijuana and Xanax pills, police said.

Figueroa is charged with burglary, criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of burglary tools, police said.

- GARY DYMSKI

NEW YORK STATE/Major crimes climb in first 6 months of 2010

New York State data show major crimes rising 1 percent in the first six months of 2010 following almost two decades of decline statewide.

In budget testimony Tuesday, Sean Byrne, acting commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, says it's not clear yet whether that is an anomaly or a trend.

The six-month data include an 11.5 percent increase in murders, 4.2 percent in aggravated assaults, 3.5 percent in burglaries and 3.4 percent in rapes, while robberies, property crimes and larcenies rose marginally and vehicle thefts fell 4.5 percent.

Data show those so-called index crimes fell 60 percent from 1990 to 2009 in New York - from over 711,500 to over 188,000 total in New York City and from over 426,000 to over 260,500 in the rest of the state.

- AP