NYPD Fights Burglary Surge In Queens

An alarming trend of burglaries has been surging through Queens for the past three to four weeks, prompting the NYPD to take major initiatives in combatting a stunning rise in burglaries.
Commanding officers in precincts from Whitestone to Ozone Park, specifically the 107, 109, 111 and 106th precincts, are wrestling with tactical measures, trying to calm the swell of what has been termed by high-ranking police personnel as possibly the work of a professional burglary ring.
According to Queens North Community Affairs Supervisor Sgt. Bernie Adams, the comprehensive tactical initiative includes a number of highly specialized teams. The BLAST unit (Burglary Larceny and Supression Team), is an anti-crime unit that is focusing on residential burglaries in targeted areas. BLAST is focusing on the 111th Precinct in Bayside presently. Yet another unit is BAM, (Burglary Apprehension Module), which is comprised of detectives who are specifically assigned to search for patterns and assemble important connections in the investigation.
Crime prevention officers are conducting surveys throughout the borough, consulting with residents and business owners and reviewing security conditions. The officers are providing information and advice about increased home security systems, locks and lighting.
"Auxiliary police are circulating throughout communities to demonstrate increased visiblity," Sgt. Adams stated. "The auxiliary officers are also working in the evening, circulating thousands of pieces of pertinent literature in shopping districts."
Patrol Borough Queens North Commanding Officer, Chief James Tuller, is heavily involved with the intensive efforts of his department. "While we are doing everything we can, it is essential that community residents be as vigilant as possible in reporting any suspicious activity immediately. We need the public to be our eyes and ears."
In addition to regular patrol and plainclothes units, both mounted and aviation personnel are being used to blanket the primarily residential communities under siege.
Mounted units have been assigned in precincts to patrol primarily residential neighborhoods on horseback. PO Kevin Ferrara of Troop F out of Cunningham Park in Fresh Meadows and his partner PO Keith Conzone have been assigned to the South Ozone Park area where burglaries in the 106th precinct have risen an average of 150% over the past month.
"People love to see police on horseback," said Ferrara, who rides Haas through the quiet neighborhood that surrounds Aqueduct racetrack. "They are really not used to seeing us around here any more. It gives people the sense that we are really pulling out all the stops to try and protect them and their property." PO Conzone, mounted on Joe G agrees with his partner. "We really get a sense of how much relief the community feels with us out here. Its a great feeling."
Precincts have also enlisted the cooperation of the aviation unit and are patrolling areas by helicopter. Newly
assigned Captain John Doherty of the 106th Precinct has taken a hands-on approach to the problem in his area by personally patrolling in plainclothes.
"Whats amazing is that I can walk into peoples backyards and their open garages and no one calls the police. The majority of these crimes are aided by peoples lack of home security," said Doherty. "We are doing everything we can to end this wave and we won’t stop until its done."
Doherty has fast earned the reputation within his precinct that he means business. Donna Gilmartin, president of the Locust Grove Civic Association told The Queens Courier that the obvious police presence is an absolute affirmation that the NYPD is intent on stopping the rash of crime.
NYPD efforts are actively being supported by the office of Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, who spoke to The Queens Courier about the role his office is playing in what he described as a "surge in burglaries."
Brown explained the vital role his office plays in furthering the investigations. "We are working hand in hand with the police on this by offering investigative support including search warrants and court authorized surveillance."
Emphasizing his concerns about how these crimes affect the overall quality of life, the DA stated, "We are zeroing in on enhancing the investigation by using experienced and specially trained prosecutors to secure early arrests. The procedure is to target cases for special handling and vigorously prosecute where property crimes are concerned."
Additionally, the agents supervise line ups, debrief defendants and generally enhancing cases targeting residential burglaries.
According to Brown, most of the burglaries are daytime occurances and he suspects a loosely knit gang of individuals is possibly responsible.