BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — As the temperatures climb, police are warning Bed-Stuy residents to secure their air conditioners following a recent spate of home burglaries.
Officials identified four break-ins in the two weeks ending on June 24 in which suspects have pushed in air conditioners to gain entry into residents’ apartments.
The incidents were in the area of Myrtle Avenue to Hart Street and Nostrand to Throop avenues, according to 79th Precinct Capt. Thomas Passolo.
“Obviously with the time of the year, the trend is still continuing,” Passolo said.
“They’ll gain entrance into the building or come from over from another and come down the fire escapes.”
In late May, police arrested a 39-year-old man accused of entering the homes of three women through unlocked doors and windows. The suspect targeted residences in the vicinity of Willoughby to DeKalb avenues and Bedford to Tompkins avenues, police said.
He allegedly grabbed some of the victims by the throat before robbing them.
Bed-Stuy’s 79th Precinct saw 31 burglaries in the four weeks ending on June 21, compared to 24 burglaries from the four weeks ending on May 24.
Police also cautioned residents against keeping personal property in their cars, since vehicle grand larcenies have been an issue through the whole year, Passolo added.
“The easy thing for them to do is to break into somebody’s car. Within hours, more often than not, they get rid of the property.”
Laptops, wallets, and electronic devices are among the most commonly stolen items.
The map reflects major crime in the precinct from May 25 to June 21, 2015.
