By Angela Marshall
Approximately 300 residents crowded into the Rose Boulevard Fire Station last Friday wanting to learn more about the "Baldwin Burglars" and demanding to see action taken by the police. Following the meeting, the precinct held a meeting to allocate even more personnel to the case.
A string of burglaries of occupied homes sprang up in Baldwin over the last month. At least six of the twelve burglaries, believed to be part of a pattern, have resulted in resident confrontations with the perpetrators. Although most of the confrontations ended with the burglar leaving after he got what he wanted, at least one victim was slashed by a box cutter and one female was sexually assaulted.
Sergeant John Carney of the First Precinct said that after covering many patterns over the years, "This is probably the scariest one that I've seen."
The area most targeted by the burglars is south of DeMott and north of Seaman on both sides of Grand Avenue. Nassau County Legislator Joseph Scannell, who helped organize the meeting, instructed the resident volunteers, who delivered the flyers for the assembly, to cover this area specifically.
Police have been unable to pin down the number of perpetrators involved. Witnesses have reported pairs made up of two black males or a combination of a male white and a male black. Residents were given a composite drawing of one of the suspects as described by witnesses.
While the burglaries have mostly been clustered around the weekends, police report that they have also happened throughout the week and at all times of the day. In general, the most confrontational crimes occurred late at night, approximately 10 P.M. to 2 A.M. "The majority of the confrontations were the ones that were late at night -1, 2, 3 o'clock in the morning when the homeowner awakes."
Although police said there has not been a weapon displayed, residents who were burglarized or their neighbors disagreed. Citing the box cutter, one resident said, "To me and my wife and my 14-month-old infant, it's a weapon and it scares the hell out of me."
Another resident told how the "Club," a heavy metal car security device, had been used to break into his home on August 18 and was left inside premises. His daughter had been home alone for several days and left the house only for the few hours when the burglary occurred. He also cautioned people that the perpetrators had thought to unscrew his floodlights. Later, that week, it was found that his neighbors lights had been tampered with as well.
The resident, who said he now sleeps with one eye open, recommended that all residents follow his lead and replace their bulbs light with ones that can't be unscrewed.
According to Inspector Anthony Rocco, the First Precinct has two detectives working on the case full time and has increased officers patrolling the area. "This one's very important to us," he said. "We're pulling out all the stops. We have our dogs available. We are using the helicopter."
Part of their plan includes stopping people on the street to question them. "We have some active leads that we have been pursuing based on the people that we have stopped, based on their arrest records, based on some arrests, and some information that we have gleaned from arrest records and from neighboring districts," the inspector said. "If we stop some of your family members or some of your relatives, understand that we are working within the confines of the law but there is going to be heightened police contact."
In the last several months, burglary patterns have emerged in both Freeport and Rockville Centre. However, police do not think they are related. "The pattern in Rockville Centre seemed to be individuals who were doing the complete opposite. They were looking for no confrontation and in fact very often just took the proceeds, stole the car and took off."
However, while the burglaries in Rockville Centre may not have been confrontational, they were in occupied homes as well. According to a letter the Mayor of Rockville Centre sent to residents this month, there have been approximately 30 occupied burglaries in the village this year.
In addition, one of the victims of the Baldwin burglaries said he was told by an officer at his home that they believed it was a continuation of the Rockville Centre trend.
No vehicle has been identified and police are looking into the possibility that the criminals are using bicycles because they have mainly taken "pocketable items," Sergeant Carney said, like jewelry and cash.
When people questioned the results of fingerprinting done at the scene, one Detective said that they believe the criminals are wearing gloves. He said he is often asked how much forensic information they have collected. "The reality of the situation is we have minimal. We're not going to lie to you and say we're close."
Residents demand respect
Some residents cried foul when officers told them to call 911 when they suspect something in their neighborhood. After Inspector Rocco told residents "Be very nosy. If you see a car on the block, or you see someone in your neighbor's yard... don't rationalize why they are there. Call 911," they complained that some officers had made them feel embarrassed for calling.
One West Carl resident remembered reporting a strange car on her block within days of the Coolidge attack. "He said to me, 'What do you want us to do? Do you want me to check and see if it's stolen?'" she said. "Please advise the people that do take our calls at the station house to have a little more sensitivity... We call and we're made to feel silly."
Other residents told similar stories.
"The officer's attitude on the phone was totally unacceptable," Inspector Rocco replied. When officers answer the phone they give their name and the inspector told residents to write it down. He said to report any misconduct by officers to his office.
Some residents praised response in their cases. A woman named Michelle said that one of the burglars had climbed a tree and was crawling into her daughter's bedroom window when she entered the room. A purse was stolen and no one was injured. When Michelle heard a noise the next night and reported it, she said,"Sixteen cop cars came to my house."
Michelle said residents should be aware that the burglars can fit in very small spaces. "This was a window I wouldn't think in a million years that anyone would come in through."
'Where do we go from here'
Residents asked how to protect themselves and what they should do if they find themselves face to face with a burglar.
"They're looking for property," the inspector said. "If you have valuables, tell them where they are. Comply."
The officers also advised removing any furniture that would give access to the second floor windows and turning on exterior lights. "Two of the houses were accessed by ladders," Inspector Rocco said.
Residents were also encouraged to join in community watch efforts. "We need all the eyes and ears we can get."
