QUEENS — An increase in car break-ins in Forest Park has prompted police to warn residents not to leave their valuables in their cars.
Thieves are cracking windows to steal wallets, purses and other valuables, police said.
Law enforcement officials said they have noticed an uptick in car break-ins in the area in the past three weeks, during which thieves stole valuables from approximately half dozen cars, after the drivers parked their vehicles around Myrtle Avenue and Freedom Drive.
Thieves break into vehicles by smashing cars' windows and usually target vehicles on Sundays, between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m., authorities said.
“When you go to the park, just make sure you don’t leave your valuables or anything visible in the car,” said Special Operations Lt. Joseph Redmond at a 102nd Precinct Community Council meeting Tuesday night.
Redmond said thieves steal purses, wallets, GPS devices and even loose change.
He said the area is secluded and thieves know that when drivers leave their cars and go to exercise or jog in the park, they won’t be back anytime soon.
Redmond said the precinct has increased the number of patrols in the area.
