Deliver us from package thefts.
Police arrested a man and woman on Oct. 6 that may have been swiping deliveries from people’s stoops in Marine Park. But the problem may not be all neatly wrapped up, police say. A team of sneaks unrelated to the duo arrested last Thursday is more likely behind the roughly 50 parcels reported pinched from porches since Sept. 1, one local law enforcement source said.
“Only a handful of people are pretty much doing the same crime. Even though we arrest the same guy 20 times, he’s out the next day, there’s no deterrent to it,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Cops collared a 34-year-old woman and a 39-year-old guy on Lawrence Avenue in Midwood and variously charged them with trespassing and stealing packages in 24 different incidents across Brooklyn, department officials said.
But thefts in Marine Park are frequent because of an E. 36th Street crash pad where a half-dozen or more drug addicts use stolen mail to supplement their income, the police source claimed.
Cops have arrested one of the guy’s living in the house between Avenue P and Quentin Road more than 50 times, the source said.
And now with the holidays fast approaching, the problem could only get worse, so officers are taking the issue seriously and encouraging anyone with video or photo surveillance of a theft in progress to contact police, the source said.
“We changed some of our shifts to be in prime package-theft areas, which is in Marine Park and some in Mill Basin. We’re aware of it. We’re now looking for victims who have video and making arrests based on that. We dedicated more resources, made it more of a priority,” the source said. “If you have an eye witness, or video, make a report, we are taking it seriously. That’s what we’re relying on. We will come to you.”
Police are asking anyone with information regarding package thefts to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577–8477. The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.nypdc
