FORT GREENE — Home burglaries are on the rise in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill so far this year, with a nearly 27 percent increase in overall break-ins prompting officials to tell residents to be sure to lock their doors and windows.
During the first week of September there were five burglaries reported. Overall, burglaries are up from 90 to 114 on the year.
That number also includes break-ins at non-residential sites such as businesses and construction lots. The breakdown was not clear.
But Capt. Peter Fiorillo, the 88th Precinct commanding officer, said he is most concerned with residential burglaries, attributing the rise to a small group of people.
"It's a shame that a few have such an impact on the crime in the precinct," he told residents at a precinct community council meeting. "I am trying my hardest to keep them away from your front door, but I can't catch them all."
Police are looking for two suspects wanted for a pair of home burglaries on the same night.
The suspects, both described as men in their teens to early 20s, entered through the unlocked back window of a home on Fort Greene and Hanson places at approximately 10 p.m. on Sept. 14 and took an Apple laptop, an Apple desktop computer and an Amazon Kindle, police said.
A few minutes later they entered another home, again through an unlocked back window, and stole an empty suitcase.
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Although these burglaries took place at night, Fiorillo said the hot times for home break-ins are between 7 and 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m.
On Sept. 4, burglars entered through the locked front door of an apartment at St. James Place and Lafayette Avenue and stole a bicycle, camera, MacBook and iPad worth $3,300, according to the NYPD.
While Fiorillo said he keeps a constant watch on violent crimes, all of which are down in the precinct so far this year, property crimes are the most worrying in the neighborhood.
"Taking care of your property worries me the most in this community," Fiorillo said. "We are looking out for your valuables."
