Ridding the streets of criminals is simply his way of giving back.
An Afghani immigrant who now patrols the streets of Borough Park and Kensington was named the 66th Precinct’s April “Cop of the Month” for arresting a burglar who has been preying on area homes.
Captain Peter DiBlasio, the commanding officer of the 66th Precinct, said that the thief had burglarized upwards of two homes back in March when a 53rd Street woman surprised him by returning while he was inside her home.
The suspect didn’t break a stride as he grabbed the woman’s bag and ran off with it, allegedly claiming that he was going to make a delivery.
The woman wasn’t surprised enough, however, to impart his description to precinct cops when she had reported what had happened.
Working off the description, Police Officer Rahmeen Bayat was on patrol when he saw the thief two days later.
With the help of a local Shomrim patrol, Bayat managed to take the burglar into custody, where he confessed to the other break-ins, DiBlasio said.
“We locked him up and we hope to keep him locked up,” the captain explained. “It’s pretty hard to catch a burglar because usually they’re in, out and gone. Usually no one sees them or realizes what’s happened until later.”
A recent addition to the NYPD, Bayat has spent the last two years patrolling the streets of the 66th Precinct.
Bayat and his family immigrated to the United States from Afghanistan 17 years ago and is first person in his family to get involved in law enforcement.
“I just wanted to do something for country that opened its arms to me and my family,” he explained, humbly when asked why he opted for a job in law enforcement. “Seeing communities like this safe is my way of giving back.”
