Images of the suspects and the vehicle they use to flee the scene were taken from video surveillance and are being circulated on a poster asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects. NYPD
The NYPD is asking for the public’s help in apprehending suspects believed to be responsible for an emerging pattern of deception burglaries throughout the city.
The alarming crime pattern made its first stop in Queens within the confines of the 114th precinct, which covers the communities of Astoria, Long Island City, Woodside and Jackson Heights, on Thursday, August 1.
According to a wanted poster currently being distributed by the NYPD, “the suspects advised the complainant that they needed to check her electricity. One subject distracted the complainant while the other subject removed property from the bedroom.”
After they finished, police say the pair fled in a silver/gray 4-door sedan.
Although it has thus far confined itself to the 114th in Queens, precincts in the nearby areas are now bracing themselves in the event that the thieves will target their areas next.
Community Affairs Officer Kenneth Zorn from the 106th precinct, which covers Howard Beach, Broad Channel, Ozone Park and parts of Richmond Hill, says that while there have not been recent deception burglaries in his precinct, there is always the need to be prepared for them. “These are serious crimes, perpetrated by serious criminals,” Zorn explained. He went on to describe the typical suspect in this situation as a professional who moves on to the next target when police attempt to flush them out. “It seems that they traverse one area to another—you never know when it will turn up in your precinct and you have to be as ready as you can for when it happens.”
And elsewhere in Queens, neighboring Precinct Community Councils in Forest Hills and Maspeth are using their Facebook pages to spread the word about the suspects and the pattern by posting a wanted poster with images and information on their Facebook pages of the suspects in the recent incident in Astoria.
Precincts are preparing for what is considered by some as the inevitable. On August 5, Captain Thomas Conforti of the 112th precinct, which covers Forest Hills, Rego Park and Kew Gardens, posted news of crimes involving deception tactics on the Facebook page of the precinct’s community council. He, along with several other commanding officers at different precincts, has started to use social media as a mechanism to aid in crime prevention and one that has the ability to keep the public informed and given accurate and dependable information, directly from police.
Suspect #1 is described as a M/W/40’s
Suspect #2 is described as a M/W/25
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
All calls are strictly confidential.
By Patricia Adams
