They’re double trouble — for criminals.
Four 61st Precinct peace-keepers were named “Cops of the Month” last week for two separate arrests in February.
Addressing the 61st Precinct Community Council Wednesday, Captain George Mastrokastas, the precinct’s commanding officer, said that Sergeant Patrick Healy and Police Officer Charles Senat were awarded for taking down two knife-wielding 16-year-olds who had robbed a teen of everything he had on him — including the jacket on his back.
The victim, who is also 16, told police that he was nearing the corner of Avenue U and East 15th Street just before 4 p.m. on February 8 when the two suspects stopped him, giving him a fat lip.
The two then forced him to hand over his jacket, iPod, book bag and cell phone.
Mastrokastas said that Sergeant Healy and Officer Senat caught up with the two thugs after a short search of the area and all of the stolen property was returned to its rightful owner.
Yet Police Officers Joseph Selitto and Anthony Giampaolo solved a more interesting case — they managed to apprehend two teens who shoveled snow by day, but then tried to dig into a senior’s home at night.
Mastrokastas explained that the two teens arrested by Selitto and Giampaolo had gone to the 76-year-old woman’s house on Avenue R on February 16 after the last snowstorm, asking if she wanted them to shovel her walk.
She agreed, but while she took a shower, the suspects snuck in through an unlocked side door and stole her computer, Mastrokastas said.
Two nights later, the suspects came back to the woman’s home and kicked in her basement window as they searched for more goodies.
The senior called 911. Selitto and Giampaolo got there in minutes and made the arrest, the captain said, adding that all four patrolmen were instrumental keeping crime down in the 61st Precinct — which fell by 24 percent as of March 7.
The 61st Precinct protects residents in Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Gravesend and parts of Midwood.
