Crime is down in Williamsburg this summer, though a recent rash of burglaries has police officers on alert.
Overall crime is down 11 percent, while burglaries are up 21.7 percent compared with last year (308 so far this year compared with 253 last year) in the 90th Precinct. Criminal complaints are down in other major categories.Robberies are down 29.1 percent, felony assaults have dropped five percent, grand larceny is down 17.9 percent, and auto thefts have similarly decreased, by 22.4 percent.
“We’re up in burglaries, but we’re making arrests,” said 90th Precinct Deputy Inspector Michael Kemper.
At a 90th Precinct Community Council meeting at Lindsey Houses (30 Montrose Avenue)on September 9, Kemper noted three significant burglary arrests NYPD officers made in the precinct over the past month.
On August 29 at 9 a.m., suspect Jeremiah Walker, 16, allegedly illegally entered 315 Seigel Street, waking the sleeping tenant, who called 911. Officers did a routine canvass, apprehending the perpetrator on the roof. Walker allegedly took electronics and laptop computer equipment.
On August 20, suspect Anthony Young, 43, was arrested outside 1340 Metropolitan Avenue, which he allegedly burglarized. The owner of the commercial building called 911 after an alarm went off at 2:45 p.m.Officers arrested Young after reviewingthe video, recognizing the alleged burglar, and conducting a routine search throughout the neighborhood. Young allegedly lifted several assorted tools and a camera.
“He has been arrested multiple times in the past for burglary,” said Kemper. “It’s always good when we apprehend a burglar because some burglars don’t do one burglary. They often do a lot. It’s an intrusion on people’s property and it has the potential to turn into a violent incident.”
On September 1, two individuals, Hector Morales and Martin Morales, were arrested for an alleged burglary in a residence on 682 Grand Street, pocketing credit cards, a camera and a wallet.
“These were textbook jobs where complainants called 911, police did routine canvassing and found the bad guy on both occasions,” said Kemper. “We recovered property and returned them to the owner.”
90th Precinct officers are urging Williamsburg residents to remember to lock their doors, secure their apartments and homes, and avoid leaving valuable property lying out in clear view.Though more officers will be on the street in the coming weeks, with the start of public school and several Jewish holidays, Kemperwants residents to remain vigilant.
The 90th Precinct is distributing crime prevention surveys as well as offering an electronic property identification service, which will invisibly tag items to make it easier to identify stolen property.
“In case people have property stolen or lost, we can have that property returned,” said Kemper. “It’s a great idea if it gets lost or stolen. If we come across it, it can be very difficult to identify whose it is.”
For more information about the 90th Precinct’s property etching program, call the Community Affairs office at 718-963-5309.