(Photo: SunnysidePost)
Jan. 3, 2014 By Christian Murray
The large police presence in Sunnyside in the past week comes in response to 14 burglaries that have occurred in the neighborhood since Thanksgiving Day.
The burglaries have taken place between 40th Street and 52nd Street on the north side of Queens Blvd, mainly during daylight hours.
Captain Brian Hennessy, commander of the 108 precinct, said Thursday that he had about 30 police officers stationed throughout the northern section of Sunnyside in response to the break-ins. He didn’t say how long the officers would be kept there.
Hennessy said that the burglaries have all taken place inside apartment buildings and that the criminals have mainly gained access through open windows by the fire escape. He said that residents should be diligent in keeping these windows closed.
Hennessy also said that the 108 precinct has a crime prevention unit, where a police officer (upon request) will be sent to a resident’s apartment to make sure it is secure from thieves. Residents who are interested in getting the aid of an officer should call the precinct.
Despite the uptick, residential burglaries actually declined across the precinct in 2013. The precinct– which covers Sunnyside, Woodside and Long Island City– reported 157 residential burglaries in 2013 vs. 184 in 2012.
