Say Targets Empty First-Floor Homes
A string of residential burglaries has hit Maspeth near its border with Woodside, the commanding officer of the 104th Precinct told members of the the Glendale/104th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol (104COP) during their meeting last Thursday, Mar. 14, at St. Pancras Pfeifer Hall.
Capt. Christopher Manson stated that the break-ins have yet to result in any confrontations, but jewelry and electronics have been stolen-mainly from ground-floor dwellings in the area.
The burglaries have taken place in an area between 68th and 74th streets bordered by Calamus Avenue on the north and Grand Avenue on the south.
Manson said he believes the burglaries are related. In each instance, the burglar made an entrance through a rear window or door. Most hits have targeted ground-floor dwellings, though Manson noted there have been attempts at second- and thirdfloor apartments.
In one instance, the perp used a ladder located in the victim’s backyard. In another, it is believed the burglar gained access to the building by ringing a first-floor apartment and making up an excuse to enter the hall.
“Typically, with a residential house, they’ll knock on the door,” Manson said. “If somebody answers, they’ll make up an excuse. If nobody answers, they go around the back and into the house.”
So far there have been no witnesses and the perp has not been picked up on any surveillance cameras, Manson said.
The last incident was Mar. 13.
Manson expressed concern that the string of daytime burglaries was moving into the evening hours. The first incidents were between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., but the Mar. 13 event occurred around 7:30 p.m, he said.
“To NYPD, a residential burglary- typically after 6 p.m.- is a dangerous thing,” Manson said. “It can turn into a very bad encounter … All the sudden they’re surprised by the homeowner, and it can go south very fast.”
The 104COP will be assisting the 104th Precinct in posting informational posters.
Overall, the precinct has “found its groove,” and crime is down approximately 18 percent over the last 28 days, Manson said. Year-to-date crime is down 12.6 percent, he added.
Stolen cars are down 45 percent, and robberies are “down significantly,” Manson told the crowd.
He said there was an uptick in felony assaults early in the year that has come under control since then. Most were domestic altercations.
“Husbands and wives throwing TV remotes at each other-garbage cans-you name it, they’re beating the crap out of each other with them,” Manson said.
In other news, the 104COP has secured two grants totalling $11,000 through the Department of Criminal Justice with the assistance of Assemblyman Mike Miller.
The capital is much-needed according to 104COP President Frank Kotnik, who said the patrol’s heightened efforts after Hurricane Sandy depleted much of their reserves.
The grants will be used to purchase replacement radios and other equipment, Kotnik said in a phone interview.
The next meeting of the 104COP will be at 7:30 p.m. April 11 at St. Pancras Pfeifer Hall, 68-20 Myrtle Avenue. It will be a joint session with the Glendale Property Owners Association.
