Eighth Precinct police officers addressed a meeting hosted by the League of Women Voters of East Nassau at the Levittown Public Library on March 19, providing residents with crime prevention strategies to stay safe in the community.
The officers, who are assigned to the Problem Oriented Policing unit, also discussed their role in the community and their efforts to combat crime.
The policing unit, which works to address quality-of-life concerns and build relationships with local residents, provided attendees with insights on crime prevention, home security, and recognizing suspicious activity. Officers also shared tips on avoiding scams and reporting neighborhood concerns to law enforcement.
Attending the event were POP officers David Brohman, Robert DiFalco and Christopher Giudice, from the Eighth Precinct, which covers Levittown, North Wantagh, Bethpage, Plainview, Hicksville and North Massapequa. Each Nassau County precinct has a POP unit, Brohman said, to handle ongoing community complaints and concerns.
One such issue is the illegal sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. POP units collaborate with undercover agents to enforce Project 21, Nassau County’s initiative to curb underage sales. Agents attempt to make purchases, and if successful, officers make an arrest.
Thefts from cars are also a major concern, Giudice said. To prevent break-ins, Brohman recommended a simple precaution: keep valuables out of sight.
“If you leave it out and you could see it, they could see it,” Brohman said, “and don't put your pocketbook in the trunk.”
Brohman said thieves often patrol parking lots, looking for people who leave valuables in their cars.
“As soon as you go into the gym, they know you’ll be in there for at least an hour,” he said. “They have plenty of time to pop your trunk and steal.”
He also warned about scanner devices that can unlock certain vehicles, particularly electric cars with app-based entry systems. These devices mimic the signal sent from a phone app to the car, allowing thieves to gain access. However, Brohman noted that such incidents are not common in the Eighth Precinct.
Giudice said many people leave their key fob near the door when they come home, making it an easy target for thieves using scanner devices. Criminals may stand outside homes at night, attempting to pick up the fob’s signal. If they detect one, they may return months later to steal the car.
To prevent this, Brohman recommended using a Radio Frequency Identification-blocking box to store key fobs, helping to block the signal and reduce the risk of theft.
Officers also discussed common scams and how to avoid them, warning attendees to be cautious of suspicious phone calls. Scammers often pose as representatives of utility companies, threatening to cut off service unless the victims provide payment in untraceable forms, such as gift cards.
“A utility or any kind of company is never going to ask you for a gift card for a payment,” Giudice said, “so it should be the telltale sign.”
Tax-related scams are also prevalent, with fraudsters claiming a tax return was already filed and demanding payment — often through a Target gift card — to “correct” the issue.
Many of these scams frequently target older adults, and Brohman advised residents to report any scams to patrol officers, who then forward the initial report to detectives for further investigation.
According to the officers, another concern is call spoofing, which is when scammers fake caller ID information to appear as though they’re from legitimate organizations, such as banks or government agencies. Officers advised residents to be cautious of such calls and to verify the caller’s identity before sharing any personal information.
The officers also advised community members to be alert when out in public and to secure any valuables that are carried, such as keeping a pocketbook in front or securing it in a shopping cart while grocery shopping.
“The biggest thing is being aware of your surroundings and just being super vigilant,” Giudice said. “If you're aware of your surroundings, you generally put yourself in a better position overall.”
At the March 19 league meeting, Brohman also highlighted Smart911, a free county-provided app that allows residents to share critical information with first responders. Users can input details such as medical conditions, household pets, or the presence of firearms, ensuring emergency personnel are aware of key information when responding to a call.
For those residing within the confines of the Eighth Precinct, Brohman suggested that they call the precinct’s number, (516) 573-6870, or 911 in emergency situations. He stressed that callers can remain anonymous and won’t clog up the system if they call regarding any concerns in their community.
“You're not taking services away from anybody,” Brohman said, “so don't worry about it.”
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grass-roots organization that works to protect and expand voting rights throughout the country. The East Nassau chapter encompasses Wantagh, Seaford, Levittown, Merrick, Bellmore and East Meadow.
According to East Nassau member Barbara Epstein, the officers’ presentation was informative, and helped attendees understand the role of POP, while providing them with tips on how to avoid becoming crime victims.
“They gave people ideas on how to be safe and how to take care of themselves and be protected,” Epstein said, “and I think that is what people in the community want to know, which is how to protect themselves.”
