By Victor G. Mimoni
Two men police believe may be responsible for a rash of burglaries in northeast Queens were arrested by the Anti-Crime Squad in the 111th Precinct Friday, authorities said.
Matthew Dummett, 21, of St. Albans, and Jaquil Campbell, 16, of Manhattan, were apprehended shortly after 1 p.m. as they emerged from a house near 185th Street and 58th Avenue in Fresh Meadows, according to Lt. Robert Rattigan of the NYPD Queens North BLAST unit.
“Officers observed two males acting suspiciously, knocking on doors and going into driveways,” Rattigan said. They were in possession of property from the home, including jewelry, electronics and identity documents as well as property reportedly stolen from a home in the 107th Precinct, police said.
According to a law enforcement source, the two are “concretely tied” to at least two other burglaries in the 111th Precinct and followed a pattern similar to as many as a dozen other such crimes.
“The investigation is ongoing,” the source said.
The 111th Precinct covers Bayside, Oakland Gardens, Little Neck, Douglaston, part of Auburndale and a slice of Fresh Meadows.
Police said the pair entered the home by cutting through a screen. They were both charged with two counts of burglary, possession of burglar’s tools and other crimes, the authorities said.
Dummett, of 114-33 205th St., has a long criminal record and had to be subdued, police said. He was also charged with possession of marijuana, according to the authorities.
“They tried to get away, but we had them covered,” said Officer Brett Huzar, who made the arrest.
111th Precinct commander Capt. Ronald B. Leyson said that in a four-week period before the arrests, burglaries in the precinct were up 64 percent from last year — to 28 from 17.
“That was a very low number,” Leyson said, adding, “This wonderful arrest may enable us to close several of those cases.”
Dummett, who was arraigned Aug. 29, was held on $50,000 bail, while Campbell, who was arraigned Aug. 28, was held on $5,000 bail, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
