YORKVILLE — Police are warning Upper East Siders to make sure their deadbolts are locked after a string of 10 burglaries over a two-month stretch, the NYPD said.
Thousands of dollars in items — including electronics, jewelry, cash and personal documents — were stolen from apartments in the East 80s and 90s between Feb. 10 and March 21, police said.
In at least half of the incidents, which police are calling a pattern, the victims came home to find items missing even though they thought they locked their doors, according to the NYPD.
Those living in the East 80s have been using "slam locks" — a feature that locks a door's deadbolt when it's closed behind them, but those can be easily opened with a slim jim or a credit card, police said.
"It gives people a false sense of security," a police spokesman said. "We're telling people to take the feature off by pushing a button on the locking mechanism. If you're not using a key to lock the door, it's likely the door is not locked."
The burglarized apartments in the 90s were also entered through front doors, police added.
Here are the locations and items stolen in February and March:
► East 85th Street, between Lexington and Third avenues
Reported on Feb. 10 at 9:40 a.m.
The victim reported the following items missing: numerous U.S. passports, a Social Security card, $40 in cash, three Apple iPads, a class ring, a diamond ring, a loose ruby, a gold and diamond stone, silver jewelry, a pair of noise-cancelling Bose headphones and two laptops.
► East 82nd Street, between Second and Third avenues
Reported on Feb. 22 at 8:20 a.m.
The victim reported the following items missing: one diamond ring, a David Yurman necklace, a $300 Burberry watch, a 24-karat gold ring, two 24-karat diamond rings, a Logan Hallowell necklace, a cubic zirconia necklace, and two dozen gold-plated silver rings from Forever 21.
► East 89th Street, between Second and Third avenues
Reported on March 1 at midnight
The victim reported the following items missing: a Sony Playstation 4, a Sentry safe, a Social Security card and other personal documents, a gold school pin and a Miroir Pico projector.
► East 89th Street, between Second and Third avenues
Reported on March 7 at 7:45 a.m.
The victim reported the following items missing: $3,800 in cash, two pairs of Beats headphones, three U.S. passports, one Apple laptop, one lock box and various jewelry.
► East 83rd Street, between First and Second avenues
Reported on March 21 at 8:20 a.m.
The victim reported the following items missing: a Lenovo Thinkpad laptop, a Thinkpad charger and a gold pendant.
► First Avenue near 91st Street
Reported on March 2 at 7:30 a.m.
The victim reported an Insignia 38-inch TV and an Apple TV missing.
► East 92nd Street, between First and Second avenues
Reported on March 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The victim reported a box of coins, $60 in cash and two Gateway items missing. It was unclear to police what the Gateway items were.
► East 92nd Street, between First and Second avenues (same address, different apartment)
Reported on March 21 at 8 a.m.
The victims reported the following items missing: a Toshiba laptop, a Swiss-made watch and a Seiko watch, Prada sunglasses, a silver Jesus ring, $60 in cash, and two American Express credit cards
► East 91st Street, near Second Avenue
Reported on March 21 at 8:30 a.m.
The victim reported the following items missing: two Apple laptops, a Louis Vuitton bag, a Baume & Mercier watch, a Fossil wallet, a Swarvoski necklace, miscellaneous jewelry, a ruby/diamond piece, Beats headphones and a Chase Bank checkbook.
► East 91st Street, near Second Avenue (same address, different apartment)
Reported on March 21 at 1:40 p.m.
A man was at home when he heard a knock at his door. A few minutes later, he heard the door open and he saw the shadow of a person walk into his kitchen. After putting his clothes on and opening his bedroom door, the burglar fled in an unknown direction.
