By MIKE CAPUTO
About 50 neighbors attended a special meeting sponsored by the Community Association of Stewart Avenue on Jan. 21, where officers from the 3rd Precinct addressed the concerns, along with local lawmakers and government officials.
Many of the residents in attendance have complained about an influx of door-to-door solicitors, usually in their teens. Rumors spread throughout the community that the peddlers were responsible for a recent spike in burglaries and break-ins of homes and automobiles.
Police Officer Nick Mosesso assured the attendees that, despite the arrest of a 16-year-old serial burglar in December, there has been no indication of a connection between the solicitors and crime.
"People in the community had the understanding that solicitors were responsible for burglaries," said Mosesso, of the 3rd Squad's Problem-Oriented Police (POP). "That's not the case."
Police said the 16-year-old burglar, Isiah Brown of Hempstead, was arrested on Dec. 10 after a foiled break-in at a residence on Plum Tree Road in Salisbury. Brown later admitted to investigators that he was responsible for at least 36 other burglaries across the 3rd Precinct, including spots in Salisbury, East Meadow and Garden City Park, detectives said.
Although Brown's age is similar to the youth peddlers, Mosesso reiterated the department's stance on the issue.
"He was not involved," Mosesso said. "This one has nothing to do with the
solicitors."
The officer noted that since Brown was arrested, there has been three reported burglaries, significantly less than before the suspect was apprehended.
However, residents at the meeting continued to express concern toward the increase in solicitors. Some said many of them carried photo identifications cards and have told residents that they hailed from Suffolk towns like Bay Shore and Lindenhurst, and were representing youth groups.
Al Wirth, a longtime Salisbury resident, said he was accustomed to getting one, maybe two door-to-door solicitors a year. Now, his doorbell rings at least once a week, usually at inconvenient times like at nighttime or during dinner hours, he said.
"They are annoying," Wirth said. "I am sitting down or eating dinner and they come and knock on the door at inconvenient times. It is not something we should be putting up with."
Wirth added that he is happy to help when kids from the neighborhood or one of the local high schools is selling candy or asking for donations. He noted that he is skeptical with some of the intentions of the out-of-towners. Recently, he said a solicitor was selling candy for $6, while another told him that he was saving up to attend a Knicks game.
"I don't know who they are or who they represent," Wirth said. "If it is truly a job I would love to help them, but I am not too sure it is."
Helen Meittinis, the president of the Community Association of Stewart Avenue and one who is regularly in contact with police officials, said she gets swarms of e-mails on a daily basis that report crime activity or complain about solicitors.
"Residents get frustrated when anybody starts coming down to the neighborhood in droves," Meittinis said. "They don't know how to deal with it."
Norma Gonsalves (R-East Meadow) had similar sentiments, adding that the meeting was an important way for residents to get a valid assessment of the situation.
"The suspicions are aroused when individuals come into the community that they have not seen before," said Gonsalves, who helped establish the neighborhood crime watch program more than 20 years ago. "They are not sure if they live in the community or if they are outside the community so that really raises concern.
"There is an uncertainly involved in the changing dynamic of every community," the legislator added. "People need to assess the situation carefully and get the facts like last night and then come to a conclusion based on what we heard and did hear: there is no correlation between the burglaries and the solicitors."
Police and Hempstead town officials on hand explained that with the exception of religious exercise - which is protected by the First Amendment - door-to-door solicitors are required to obtain peddler permits from the municipality. The officials also encouraged residents to post signs that indicate "no solicitors," which they said would make turn the presence of the peddler on the private property into a trespassing violation.
Meittinis is urging neighbors to take the advice and post a "no solicitation" sign.
"You can call the police and they can do something about it because [the solicitors] are trespassing," Meittinis said. "They are violating you right of saying 'no solicitors.'"
Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes (R-Bellmore) reminded residents that they are not obligated to answer the door, and if should report intimidating behavior by solicitors.
"If you're given a hard time by someone soliciting door-to-door, you should call 911," Hudes said. "They should not be harassing you."
For Jim Calabrese, news from the informational session was a relief.
"I was very relieved that it wasn't the solicitors that were committing the burglaries," said Jim Calabrese, who lives on Carman Avenue. "I was very nervous about that because my parents are 80-years-old living in an area by themselves. It makes you feel a little safer that it is not happening."
Comments about this story? MCaputo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
