Gentrification in Williamsburg has resulted in a substantial decrease in reported crimes within the neighborhood. Back in the 1980’s and 1990’s when Williamsburg had an overwhelmingly Hispanic population, consisting mainly of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, it was not deemed a safe place to be around especially in the late hours. The crimes at the time were predominantly some form of robbery such as snatching of personal possessions like purses and wallets. There were also several cases of assault and other violent acts but these were much less frequent than the robberies. These types of crimes, and the presence of a high rate of crime to begin with, are generally associated with neighborhoods of the lower class and impoverished.
Today Williamsburg is a much safer place. There has been a significant decrease in the population of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans (the primary offenders of the previously mentioned crimes) and much of the remaining Hispanic population is now concentrated in the southern area of Williamsburg. As can be seen in the map below, the southern area of Williamsburg now seems to be where most of the crimes occur while the rest of Williamsburg seems relatively peaceful (red indicating high rates of crime and green indicating low rates of crime). Wealthier, middle to higher class individuals now make up the majority of the population throughout Williamsburg: explaining the cause of the plummeting of crime rates.
http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Williamsburg-Brooklyn/5274/crime/
