Upswing in burglaries puts residents on alert

Captain Steven A. Haynes, commanding officer of the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) 105th Precinct in Queens Village, alerted Community Board 13 meeting attendees last Monday, February 26 that a recent spate of residential burglaries has prompted the precinct to ask area residents to be vigilant in reporting suspicious activity and securing their homes.
According to Haynes, the crimes are being committed by what he described as “a large and organized group” of about 50 burglars from Jackson Heights and Sunnyside. They work in small teams to rob primarily single-family homes during the day when owners are at work. The group works citywide but has recently been targeting Queens Village and other areas at the north end of his command, he said.
“The last thing they want is confrontation,” he said, assuring attendees that the burglars are more interested in getting in and out of homes quickly than committing acts of violence.
The burglars enter homes by kicking in doors or through rear-facing windows. They are looking for small, easily-carried items such as jewelry and cash.
According to the precinct’s CompStat crime statistic report, the precinct reported 18 burglaries during the week from Monday, February 19 through Sunday, February 25—a 157 percent increase over the seven burglaries reported during the same period last year.
Fifty-five burglaries were reported in the precinct during the 28-day period ending on Sunday, February 25, almost 45 percent higher than the 38 reported in the corresponding period in 2006.
Year-to-date statistics showed a 15 percent increase to 91 burglaries this year versus 79 in 2006.
“If you see anybody you don’t know on your block hanging around just call 9-1-1,” Haynes said, noting that the burglars are watching homes looking for targets.
“They may even ring your bell,” he warned.
The NYPD offers the following tips to help secure your home:

Keep all doors and windows locked, especially at night and when going out—even for short periods

Remove ladders, patio furniture, etc. that a burglar may stand on to gain access to ground level windows

Use a piece of wood in the tract of double hung windows and sliding glass doors to prevent them from being opened. Basement windows should be secured with Fire Department-approved interior ferry gates that pull across the inside and latch closed.

Exterior doors should be at least one and three-quarters inches thick and made of solid wood or metal. Install a single cylinder dead bolt lock and a 190-degree view “peep hole.”

Protect all windows and doors with an alarm system that is monitored at a central station for police response.

Write down the license plate number and descriptions of suspicious vehicles or people in your neighborhood and call 9-1-1 immediately.

Call Crime Prevention Officer Brian Wimpelberg at the 105th Precinct to schedule a crime prevention survey of your home or business at 718-776-9207.