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Read the press release here.

Police Canvassing Crime-Ridden Areas for Unattended Valuable Property

 The 76th Precinct is conducting a program called 'Spot it to Secure it' where they canvass the neighborhood for unattended valuable objects.
The 76th Precinct is conducting a program called 'Spot it to Secure it' where they canvass the neighborhood for unattended valuable objects.
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DNAinfo/Nikhita Venugopal

COBBLE HILL — The 76th Precinct is conducting a new program to help reduce petty larceny and theft of unattended property in the community, the commanding officer said.

“Spot it to Secure it” will involve an in-house task force of contravention officers, community affairs officers, among others, canvassing the neighborhood and spotting potential crime hazards, particularly in the form of unattended property, said Captain Jeffrey Schiff at a precinct council meeting, Tuesday.

“I’m trying to think outside the box,” said Schiff.

Thefts and petit larcenies crimes are up since last year in the 76th Precinct, with the primary target being unattended property in the neighborhood.

The officers will be focusing on specific areas with recent and historic crime trends, looking for valuable objects like iPads, laptops, navigation devices, bicycles and packages left in cars and street corners.

When they spot these objects, cops will snap a photo of it and attempt to contact the owner of the vehicle.

“If we spot it, so can the thieves,” said Schiff.

Officers of the 76th Precinct will also be checking doors of brownstones and apartments buildings to see if these doors are locked and secure in crime-ridden areas.

Schiff said several thefts occur when these doors are not locked properly and valuable property is left in the hallway.

Once again, if the officers spot costly items, they will take a photo of it and attempt to contact residents, owners, superintendents or the building manager to warn them of the potential thefts.

If they cannot contact them, the precinct will send out forms along with the photograph of the unattended property to the owner to warm them of the potential hazards of leaving things unattended.

“If we found it, so can the thieves,” said Schiff.

The 76th Precinct will be starting the program in April.