Captain Ralph Forgione, executive officer of the 112th Precinct, said half of the 31 grand larcenies in Forest Hills and Rego Park in the last 30-day period were easily preventable and asked for the public’s help. Forum Newsgroup Photo by Jeremiah Dobruck.
Half of the grand larcenies last month in and around Forest Hills and Rego Park were crimes of opportunity that were easily preventable—a message 112th Precinct officers are trying hard to get out to the community.
There were 31 grand larcenies in the last 30-day period, Captain Ralph Forgione, executive officer of the 112th, told attendees at the Forest Hills Civic Association meeting.
That’s about even with last year, but 10 of those crimes were unattended property, he said.
“So once every three days someone is leaving something [unattended], and they turn their back, turn back around and it’s gone,” the captain said. “It’s an opportunist. They see that and they commit a crime.”
In addition, five of those 31 crimes turned out to be property stolen from inside a parked car.
“I’d appreciate it if you just get the word out there to take the wallet or your purse out of the car,” Forgione said. “I always use the line. Help me help you.”
He stressed that, overall, almost half the grand larcenies he and detectives have followed up on could have been easily avoided in the first place.
“It’s amazing how quick [it happens with] someone just watching you and waiting for that one second where you’re not paying attention—and that’s it. It’s over,” said Forgione.
Another crime on the rise in the precinct and citywide is cell phone theft, Forgione said.
Just this Tuesday, Sen. Charles Schumer and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly made a joint announcement that cell phone theft is the fastest-growing crime in New York and there’s a new way to combat it.
All major phone carriers and the federal government are setting up a database that gives each phone an ID number.
This would make it easy to disable the phone completely if it’s stolen and render it useless and worthless to a thief.
That program is expected to be up and running by the end of 2013, but in the meantime, Forgione asked attendees to do the opposite of disabling their phones if they are stolen.
He wants them to keep their phones on.
Forgione encouraged residents to download tracking apps offered by major smartphone brands and carriers so police can try to track down the phone when a report is filed.
“I did it the other night. I was here on Thursday, somebody walked in, they’d lost their phone, and we tracked their phone for them,” Forgione said.
He said they ask people filing reports to keep the phone service active for at least 48 hours and told them not to worry because they wouldn’t be liable for charges after a report is filed.
“So if your cell phone is taken, don’t turn the service off. Come into the precinct, we’ll hook you up with a detective who will try to locate your phone and see if we can nab the person,” he said.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
