There have been documented cases of NYPD not wanting to take reports. Without crime being reported, they can manipulate the figures to make themselves and the city look better. [typo edits]

Edited to add:

Start here: http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-05-04/news/the-nypd-tapes-i...

Or take your pick: http://www.villagevoice.com/related/to/New+York+Crime+Statis...

This happened on the LES. Grand and Allen. It is lower manhattan, but that neighborhood is not the upper east side.

That would be why it went that well. Try the Bronx where they never came to help me after 4 hours of waiting. Oakland is more similar to the Bronx in policing than it is the rest of the bay area.