Rahmel Bullock (NYPD)
Jan. 29, 2020 By Christian Murray
There have been 14 residential burglaries in the 108 Police Precinct this year, with at least nine of them in Sunnyside, according to police.
Deputy Inspector Michael Gibbs, the commanding officer for the 108 Police Precinct, said that one suspect is responsible for at least nine of the 14 residential burglaries, with another man wanted for at least two of them.
“We have seen a huge increase in burglaries in the 108 precinct this year,” Gibbs said, who was speaking at the Precinct Community Council meeting in Sunnyside last night. “There has been a massive spike.”
Gibbs said that there have been six residential burglaries in Sunnyside Gardens this year, with another three on Greenpoint Avenue in the vicinity of 47th Street. The remaining burglaries, he said, are scattered throughout the precinct—although each is within a short walk from the No. 7 train.
Gibbs said that they believe that Rahmel Bullock, a 34-year-old African American man who is about 5 feet 6 inches tall, is responsible for at least three of the Sunnyside Gardens burglaries and most of the remaining incidents in the precinct.
He said that Bullock, who weighs about 150 pounds, has been breaking into homes through open windows and doors, and then walking out with credit cards and valuables. He has allegedly broken into homes when people have been home.
Additionally, he has been breaking into apartments via fire escapes and scaffolding, Gibbs said.
“He is brazen, fearless. He’s a recidivist…this is what he does,” Gibbs said. He noted that Bullock does not have a history of being violent.
Gibbs said that they are close to making an arrest, although he said with the state’s new bail law he is likely to be released.
“We are close [to getting him],” Gibbs said. “We have two teams looking to grab him. I am confident.”
The police said that there is another man they are looking for burglary. This man broke into two houses on 45th Street in Sunnyside Gardens on Jan. 14.
The police have video footage of the suspect, who is described as Hispanic, wearing all black.
Gibbs said that they have stepped up police presence in the area and have deployed plain clothes cops.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. William Martinez at 718-784-5441
