PROSPECT-LEFFERTS GARDENS — Police nabbed a crew of burglars, including a 14-year-old boy, accused of breaking into at least 10 homes in the neighborhood this month, entering rear windows via fire escapes to steal electronics.
Officers from the 71st Precinct made two arrests around midnight Tuesday following a rash of break-ins in the area. One of those arrested is age 14, police said, but would not release the age or identification of the second arrested burglar. A third person thought to be involved in the thefts is in police custody, police said. Charges against him are pending.
The NYPD identified those arrested after residents who saw them break into their apartments and homes came forward, police said.
“They caught them in the act,” said community affairs officer Det. Vincent Martinos, adding that the burglars fled after being seen by their would-be targets.
He said there is a “strong indication” the crew is responsible for all of the area’s recent break-ins, stealing between $300 and $2000 in each burlgary.
The precinct in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens has received 10 reports this month of window burglaries, all within the blocks between Flatbush and New York avenues and Empire Boulevard and Clarkson Avenue — increase of more than 200 percent when compared to the three reported burglaries in the same area last year, according to police data.
