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Precinct Commander Warns
Of "Deception Burglaries" Due to a series of recent "deception burglaries," community residents, especially the elderly, are being advised by 69th Precinct officials to be vigilant of strangers who come to their home pretending to be someone they're not and subsequently rob them. Less than a month after the Courier reported on a local "deception" crime, 69th Precinct commanding officer Captain Ralph Monteforte said that four suspects who were arrested last week may be connected to several recent incidents in which the victims were all over 80-years-old. Monteforte said the suspects usually travel in groups of two or more and pose as neighbors, old time friends, passersby needing to use a telephone or city employees. "While one of the suspects is having a conversation with the home owner, the others enter the house and take whatever they can," Monteforte said. "The victim is distracted, but when the suspects leave, he/she discovers that property, like jewelry, money and even small electronics, is missing." The latest victim was a 91-year-old woman who lives in the East 90s. The suspects - three women and a man between 30 and 45 - came to her door and while she was talking with one of them, the others allegedly entered her home, broke into her safe and pocketed whatever valuable items they could. Detective Michael McFadden saw the suspects leaving the woman's house and apprehended them and learned they each had prior arrest records for the same type of crime. The case is currently being investigated by the Brooklyn district attorney's office. However, Monteforte cautioned all residents, "Don't let anyone into your house if you feel uncomfortable talking to them. And if you have elderly neighbors, make sure you check up on them and tell them what's going on in the community so they know not to just answer the door to anyone." | |||||
