Precinct Fights Career Criminals In Sunnyside
The 108th Precinct has amassed victories in its battle against career criminals burglarizing the area, residents learned at the 108th Precinct Community Council’s Tuesday, May 29 at Sunnyside Community Services.
The precinct has made arrests of several burglars, according to Capt. Donald Powers, the precinct’s commander, who added that many of the arrested individuals were “career criminals.”
One of them was of a man who committed a burglary in Sunnyside Gardens. The man was caught on camera, and one of the officers recognized the man from a previous arrest and cuffed him.
It was later learned that the man was also involved in a burglary in the Bronx, and he was additionally charged for these crimes.
“He has arrests around the city going back a couple of years,” he added.
Two men were arrested for crimes in the 108th Precinct for using a blowtorch to break into homes. Powers noted that the duo were wanted for eight burglaries in the 104th Precinct and three in the 115th.
“What we see over and over- two males not from the 108; these men lived in Elmhurst,” Powers stated. “These are professional burglars; that’s what they do.”
The precinct continues to tow abandoned vehicles, with the 108th and 104th precincts combining for over 15 cars removed from local streets.
One man is still wanted by the precinct for area burglaries; Powers claimed that in one instance the perpetrator jumped out a window to avoid arrest.
One resident asked if it would help if locals went to court to press for long jail sentences for burglars. Powers lauded the work of the Queens District Attorney’s Office in pushing for adequate punishment.
“We don’t go to the well that often,” the commander admitted, but when the precinct asks, “they will work with us and do a vigorous prosecution of that guy.”
Residents who keep their windows open and do not secure air conditioners provide “an opportunity for them to get in,” Powers said, referring to prospective burglars.
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Powers noted several key robbery arrests over the past month. Robberies are slightly up over the past 28 days and have increased in 2012.
The commander, responding to a resident’s question, noted that the 108th Precinct fielded over 55,000 911 call in 2011.
“I’m not on my soapbox; I love it when I hear that,” he said.
The number doesn’t include instances where the precinct found criminal activity while on patrol.
“We are busier than I think people realize,” he said, adding that the number included 2,800 arrests and 4,000 criminal court summonses issued.
The 108th Precinct Community Council re-elected their slate of officers, including President Diane Ballek.
The 108th Precinct Community Council meets on the last Tuesday of the month at Sunnyside Community Services, located at 43-31 39th St. in Sunnyside.
