Raids Change Machines At Apt. Buildings
Law enforcement agents are looking for a man responsible for a series of burglaries across East Elmhurst, Forest Hills, Rego Park and Woodside over the last two months in which he raided change machines at apartment houses.
A surveillance camera image of the perpetrator was released by the NYPD last Thursday night, May 23, who is wanted for the pattern of 13 break-ins reported within the confines of the 112th and 115th precincts dating back to Apr. 18.
In each of the incidents, authorities stated, the suspect went to the basement of the apartment buildings and removed cash from the change machines, which are typically used by residents to feed coin-operated washing machines and dryers located nearby.
Police said the first incident occurred between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Apr. 18 at an apartment house on Saunders Street near 65th Road. Two additional apartment houses located a short distance away on Saunders Street were reportedly hit by the crook at 5 a.m. on Apr. 24 and between 10 p.m. Apr. 24 and 8:30 a.m. Apr. 25, respectively.
Law enforcement sources said the burglar struck again on May 3, burglarizing a change machine at an apartment house on 63rd Drive near Haring Street between 1:15 and 1:25 a.m.
Five days later, on May 8, the per- petrator burglarized an apartment house on 99th Street near 64th Road between 1:27 and 1:45 a.m, police reported.
Authorities said the burglar then took his act to apartment houses on the Woodside/East Elmhurst border, breaking into four locations btween 1:30 and 3 a.m. on May 10.
Three days later, law enforcement sources stated, the bandit moved to the Forest Hills area, hitting an apartment house on 71st Avenue between 108th and 110th streets on May 13 at around 9:30 a.m.
The burglar reportedly broke into a building on 67th Road off 108th Street between 10 p.m. on May 15 and 10 a.m. the following morning, and another apartment house on 73rd Road off 110th Street between 12:01 a.m. and 3 p.m. on May 16.
Finally, police noted, the bandit ripped off a residential building on Austin Street between 77th Road and 78th Avenue sometime last Monday, May 20, between 1:57 and 2:12 a.m.
The investigation is ongoing.
Persons with information regarding the burglaries or the whereabouts of the suspect that could prove helpful are asked to contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-577-TIPS, by text message to 274637 (enter information, then the code TIP577) or online at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
All calls and messages will be kept confidential.
