By:Robert Remler
Evidence in Elmont arrest linked to VS robberies
Computer equipment found in a car driven by two men arrested early in March for an Elmont burglary was stolen in Valley Stream during a still unsolved four-month burglary spree, police told members of the Valley Stream Civilian Patrol last week.
Police said that Gary Patterson, 38, and Michael Patterson, 40, were arrested March 2 and charged with a burglary in Elmont. The men have not been charged with any Valley Stream crime, or any crime other than the Elmont burglary.
"The crime for which the Pattersons were arrested was the same pattern for which we are investigating," said Det. Sgt. James Tilton of the Fifth Precinct. He said entry into the Locust Wood Boulevard house and time of day were similar to many of the 40 burglaries since December in the west end of Valley Stream.
Also, Tilton said that the frequency of burglaries in the Valley Stream area has decreased significantly since the arrests of the Patterson brothers. "Further investigation of these two individuals has revealed that we have recovered stolen property that had been taken from some of the burglaries."
Tilton said the investigation is continuing to determine whether the Pattersons can be charged with other burglaries.
The Civilian Patrol has been driving around the west end of Valley Stream for months to assist police in apprehending the burglars, and called the meeting last week to hear about progress police are making.
Officer Gerald Giambruno told the Civilian Patrol members that another team of burglars remains at large and possibly acted in tandem with the Pattersons.
Police are still concerned with and actively investigating the residential robberies," Giambruno said. And Tilton agreed, saying, "This year has been horrendous. There have been 32 robberies in the area in the past seven weeks. Residents should not think the threat is over. We got these two people. There are others out there."
Giambruno has patrolled the area for months and said residents needed to be more aware. He has walked through many backyards without attracting attention. "Not one person called 911," he said.
Residents have to get involved, he said, adding that the wave of burglaries were "made easier by the lack of neighbors looking out for other neighbors." Empty trash cans in front of a home and mailboxes filled with envelopes are signs to a burglar that someone is not home, he said.
Joe Locoteta, president of the Civilian Patrol, said he appreciated the arrests police made, but while there are other burglars still to be caught, his group of volunteers will continue to patrol the area.
The Patterson brothers are familiar to the Fifth Precinct, having been arrested in the late 1980s for burglaries there, police said. Each has been in prison for 15 of the past 20 years.
Each has been charged with one count of burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and attempted assault in the Elmont case. They remain in the Nassau County Jail in East Meadow.
