Rash of burglaries plague Woodmere

Break-ins to cars, businesses and homes in Woodmere have been on a steady increase since last November. Nassau County police have made an arrest, and are investigating whether any or all of the incidents are connected.

Two homes were burglarized on Fulton Street in Woodmere on Feb. 18. A day later, in two afternoon incidents that occurred minutes apart, a home on Central Avenue, and another on Milton Place, were broken into while residents of both homes were inside. In one instance, a woman yelled when she saw a strange man, and he ran out of the house. In the other incident, a man was cutting the screen of a window at the back of the house, police said, but left when he heard someone enter the house.

On Jan. 13, there were three car break-ins at the New York Sports Club in Woodmere. Each car’s side window was smashed, and property was stolen.

On Nov. 10, Woodmere Farm, on Broadway, was the site of a break-in. The back glass door was shattered, and money was taken from the register. Eight days later and one block south, at Woodmere Convenience, the back door was forced open and damaged. A surveillance camera captured someone entering the store and leaving after an alarm sounded.

Woodmere Farm owner John Park said he incident at his store was upsetting. “Because of it, business was slow after it happened for a while,” he said. “It didn’t help our business. I will feel much safer when they catch the person.”

Police arrested Woodmere resident Jamie Culoso, 27, of Ward Place, last Friday, and charged her with two counts of burglary for the November incidents. It was unclear whether police suspected her of involvement in the other break-ins. Their investigation is continuing.

“We can’t say this is definite or that these burglaries are linked yet,” said Detective Lt. Richard LeBrun, commanding officer of the NCPD’s public information unit. “But we are investigating this in more detail at the moment. Culoso could be connected, but we have to rule everything out.”