By ANGELA MARSHALL
The approximately 700 residents packed into the Baldwin High School gymnasium on Thursday, October 12, were greeted with good news concerning the burglary spree that plagued the community since August. First Precinct Inspector Anthony Rocco said that although no direct link has been established yet, no pattern burglaries have occurred since a man was arrested in Freeport late last month.
From August through much of September, a pattern of 12 burglaries caught the eye of police. Nine of the burglaries occurred in homes with residents inside, and six were confrontational. Police have called burglaries in which someone is hom the most dangerous sort, and at least two residents were injured during confrontations.
After a community meeting was held last month, pattern-related burglaries cooled in Baldwin, with only two possible ones taking place since then. At about the same time, however, a similar pattern popped up in the Roosevelt and Freeport areas, according to Inspector Rocco.
First Precinct officers followed up when a man was arrested in Freeport after being seen in a yard carrying a brick. Investigations linked him to jewelry from an occupied-home burglary in Freeport, and subsequently to several other burglaries in that area.
So far, police have not been able to charge him with any Baldwin crimes. "Now, I'm not saying that this is the guy and it's 100 percent and we're done," Inspector Rocco told the crowd. "I can't say that, because the guy's not admitted to any of the burglaries in Baldwin."
Further questioning of the suspect has been cut off by his lawyer and police did not reveal his name.
"This individual has a lengthy arrest record. He's on parole," the inspector said. "In fact, he was put away and sent upstate for committing occupied house burglaries in Baldwin and Roosevelt last time."
A brick was used in at least one of the Baldwin burglaries. Although more than one individual is thought to be involved in the burglaries, police think the arrest might have moved associates to a different location. They are continuing to circulate fliers containing a suspect composite based on descriptions by burglary victims.
Two burglars with similar modes of operation have also been arrested in Rockville Centre within the last few weeks.
"That doesn't mean we're going to stop what we're doing," the inspector continued. "We're going to keep the saturation patrol. We're going to keep an eye on it until we have an assurance."
The police also urged residents to continue to look out for their neighborhoods. "Be a nosy neighbor," the inspector said. Several residents signed a sheet to join a Community Watch.
Because of the turnout at the community meetings, Inspector Rocco said he would foster advisory groups in Baldwin, as he has in other communities, so that people can get correct information. "The best thing you can have is the proper information," he said.
He also encouraged people to call him if they are not satisfied with treatment by police. As at the other meeting, some residents said they were treated insensitively by some officers. Others praised those that came to their aid.
"The vast majority of these guys are good guys," the inspector said. "There is always going to be somebody who doesn't get the message. But I don't want a few guys to poison the [reputation] of the 200 cops that work in this precinct and work very hard."
To report an officer, Inspector Rocco told people to be very specific. Time, date and a name, if possible, will help identify the officer.
