According to the NYPD, the number of robberies and burglaries on Staten Island are down this year, but the homicide rate is up when compared to numbers from 2015. NY1's Thabie Sibanda spoke with the district attorney to find out how his office is addressing crime in the borough.

The NYPD’s crime statistics for 2016 are a mixed bag on Staten Island, with some increases and some decreases of certain crimes.

NY1 spoke to several people on Friday who said they’ve felt safer in the last year.

“The local police department is doing a great job, and the people [and] the locals that work here, everyone is watching out and supporting each other," said John Salas, a Stapleton resident.

"It's been a lot better. You know sometimes it gets better sometimes it gets worse. But yet again it's how the people make the neighborhoods," said Roberta M., a St. George resident.

Despite a string of burglaries in areas like Annadale and Eltingville this year, police-reported burglaries were down 11 percent across the borough. Robberies were also down another 7 percent.

Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon said local law enforcement officials have been busy tracking these kinds of criminals down, including one suspect who eluded them for a decade.

"The Ninja Burglar, perhaps the most famous burglar of all in Staten Island's histor, we were able to bring to justice this year. We're very proud of that," said McMahon.

However, rapes in 2016 were up on Staten Island, more than 17 percent over the previous year. Homicides also spiked in the last year, almost 43 percent.

The DA said the majority of those cases this year involved domestic violence situations. In response, his office has put an enhanced focus on their work with the Family Justice Center.

"We've been successful, but we won't rest until we bring those numbers as close to zero as we can," said McMahon.

The DA's office also advocated for ways to address crime more specifically. In the last year, a veterans' court was opened to serve veterans in the criminal justice system.

A new narcotics court was also launched in the borough in October. McMahon said the drug epidemic will be something he’ll continue to focus on through the New Year.

"The overdose numbers continue to rise. Just in the last eight days, we've had eight overdoses, three saves by the Police Department and five deaths. So in the year, we're very close to 90 deaths on Staten Island," said McMahon.

He said although his office is bringing the numbers down, in crime-fighting, there's no time to rest.