Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale
Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale told The Forum this week that the precinct has been experiencing what he termed ” a nagging problem with a particular strip in the community.
The inspector says that a number of incidents have been taking place along Liberty Avenue between 80th and 88th streets and down to 107th Avenue.
Most of the incidents are involving the theft of iPhones, iPads and related products. “It seems that these Apple products are among the most attractive things to thieves,” Inspector Pascale said.
He stated further that people using these devices are often unaware of what is going on around them due to the use of ear buds or other things that distract them from their immediate surroundings. “These thieves are dependant on that so they can prey on their victims much easier.” And so Pascale is advising anyone who is using the devices to pay extra attention to what is going on around them and perhaps chose to wait until they are in a more protected environment before displaying them on the street to those eagerly waiting to pounce on them.
He said that the majority of crimes happen on the midnight tour and occur usually after 2 a.m. when residents are getting off the train stops along Liberty Avenue and walking to their homes.
The Inspector has increased the number of police on the tour and is beefing up the patrol.
In other areas of the precinct, the Lindenwood Alliance was contacted by several residents in Howard Beach who were concerned with what they were describing as robberies they had heard about.
Alliance President Joann Ariola says she contacted Pascale who was as she put it “right on top of it.”
Pascale also made the important distinction of explaining to Ariola that the incidents were in fact burglaries as opposed to robberies. In fact on Friday night last week, there was an incident on 101st Street on the old side of Howard Beach where and intruder was scared off by a homeowner who caught him trying to get access to the property through the kitchen window.
Meanwhile reports from the new side of Howard Beach brought the news that someone fitting the same description was spotted there in multiple locations on that side of Howard Beach.
But by Saturday at 2 a.m. cops at the 106 precinct had arrested a 26-year-old white male with a record of violent prior arrests. The girlfriend who had no record, was also picked up.
Police made the arrest after residents detained the man inside another car he was trying to steal. The suspect was also already in possession of another vehicle which had also been reported as stolen in the 112th precinct.
Police believe the suspect they arrested on Saturday morning may be involved in as many as 10 area burglaries and are actively investigating.
Pascale also made an appeal to the community to please make sure to lock their premises and keep their eyes open for their neighbors houses. “Many of our homeowners are still not back in their houses on a permanent basis because of storm damage. Thieves are taking advantage of this and we need the public’s help in being aware of the threats to their homes in their absences.”
By Patricia Adams
