Over the past few years graffiti has been on the rise citywide, so it's no surprise that 2008 saw an increase in the colorful activity as well. The Daily News reports on some new NYPD stats, noting that while graffiti complaints were up 10% on a whole, Brooklyn in particular is losing its battle against vandals, reporting more complaints and less arrests in 2008. more ›

Police say they've arrested two men in connection with a recent crime spree in the West Village, which left one woman with a broken jaw and other residents of the quaint neighborhood feeling terrorized. An NYPD source tells the Post that Adam Temple, 21, of Hampton Place in Brooklyn, and Anthony Lindsay, 30, of Park Place in Brooklyn, were arrested late last night. The two are suspected of perpetrating violent muggings which targeted mostly white women; in each incident the victim was approached from behind by two males, hit and then mugged. Last week City Council Speaker Christine Quinn sent an email to residents warning them to remain alert and to beware of "strangers asking for directions." more ›

Maybe not anymore; the unidentified victim says that when she noticed her two assailants walking toward her down the block, even "from a distance, I felt like they didn't belong. I had a strange feeling." She believes one of the men had a gun. "They pushed me to the ground... I crumbled pretty easily because I thought it was a gun... I started screaming, 'I don't know what you want. I'll give you whatever you want. They continued to punch me.'" Thankfully, she was able to get her hands on her mace and sprayed the thugs in the face. They made off with her earrings, and she got taken to St. Vincent's with a broken jaw. more ›

Not everything in Brooklyn is coming up strollers and Babelands, the Brooklyn Paper is reporting that the divorce rate in the borough has skyrocketed! Reports show that there's been a 30% rise since 2003, with uncontested divorces totaling 7,035 (nearly 2,000 more since 2004) and contested divorces up 5%. First Tea Lounge, and now this! more ›