Crime rates have drastically decreased over the past 20 years. The Chinatown area, during the 1800s, was previously known as the infamously crime ridden Five Points to the Chinese triads, known as the Tongs, of the 1900s. The Tongs were found in many cities by the 20th century and were in charge of running underground businesses such as prostitution, gambling and drug trade. As a result, a police station on 19 Elizabeth Street was built in 1915 and another was built on 100 Centre Street in 1939. In the 1960s, as many of the old Tong members grew old, they began recruiting newer, younger members.
In the early 90’s, Chinatown was inhabited by a majority of Asians and Pacific Islanders. By 2006, through gentrification, the white population has increased to 25% of the population in Chinatown. The new white residents resulted in a revitalization of the neighborhood as well as the old residents. As seen in the Real Estate section, the current prices of housing have increased. As a result, the newer residents also pushed out the older, less affluent ones, which resulted in lower total crime rates as incoming families have a higher income. They are less likely to commit robbery, burglary or larceny.
This map shows the current committed crimes in Chinatown as of 2013. The most common form of local crime committed is robbery and mugging of tourists around the area. The area in Chinatown is mostly green, indicating low violence crime, with the exception of the area surrounding Grand Street.
http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Chinatown-New_York/5062/crime/
Perhaps it is because of these lower crime rates that the police have been stricter around the fifth Precinct and finding even the smallest forms of crimes to stomp out. As many know perhaps, Columbus Park is a place where many of the elderly spend their time leisurely. However, four policemen arrested an elderly Chinese man because he did not “have a sound permit for his speakers.” The situation was caught on video and posted as a debate over the injustice of the arrest.
