Post by onthejob on Dec 20, 2011 23:34:17 GMT -5
Plainview crowd airs burglary concerns
December 20, 2011 by BILL MASON / bill.mason@newsday.com
The fear of burglaries filled a small meeting room at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library Tuesday night, with an overflow crowd of nearly 100 residents wanting to hear from top precinct commanders about efforts to combat the problem.
While the event was planned several months ago, and is done each year around this time, much of the turnout was due to a perceived increase in burglary crimes in the Plainview/Old Bethpage community.
"I'm happy to see so many people came out," said Carol Meschkow, president of Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, which sponsored the event. She said about 20 more people were turned away from the meeting room by the library staff to stay within room capacity regulations.
Michael O'Connor, a Plainview resident for 14 years, complained, "In the last 10 or 15 years, our taxes are going up and up, and our quality of life is going down, down, down." Other concerned citizens asked officers for information on how to establish community neighborhood watch organizations, how to join the county's auxiliary police, or just how to make their homes safer.
Deputy Inspector John Berry, commanding officer of the second precinct said that in one two-day period this month, one small section of Plainview had 10 burglaries. That was an unusually high number for that area, and for that period of time, he said. But Berry, and Inspector Donald Halbohn, commanding officer of the Eighth Precinct, both said they do not believe there has been any significant growth in the overall number of burglaries this year in their two precincts, which includes the Plainview and Old Bethpage communities. Police officials had no specific crime numbers at the meeting last night.
There is usually an increase in burglaries from October through the holidays, police said. Much of the increase is due to darkness coming earlier in the day. Burglars look to enter homes when no residents are there, and with the early darkness, they can tell when lights are out and homeowners are probably still at work.
Catching burglars is a high priority, Halbohn told the audience. "We have a lot of resources that are addressing these problems," Halbohn said. "It's not for a lack of trying ... I'm personally offended by burglars ... I tell my guys, pound those back streets and lock up a burglar."
Both commanding officers said residents can help themselves and their community by looking out for their neighbor's property as well as their own, using automatic timers to turn on lights after dark, by keeping an eye out for suspicious people and unfamiliar vehicles, and calling 911 if something does not seem right.
Sketches of recent burglary suspects were made available to those there.
Are these guys joking. Someone tell the public the truth already.
December 20, 2011 by BILL MASON / bill.mason@newsday.com
The fear of burglaries filled a small meeting room at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library Tuesday night, with an overflow crowd of nearly 100 residents wanting to hear from top precinct commanders about efforts to combat the problem.
While the event was planned several months ago, and is done each year around this time, much of the turnout was due to a perceived increase in burglary crimes in the Plainview/Old Bethpage community.
"I'm happy to see so many people came out," said Carol Meschkow, president of Concerned Citizens of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Community, which sponsored the event. She said about 20 more people were turned away from the meeting room by the library staff to stay within room capacity regulations.
Michael O'Connor, a Plainview resident for 14 years, complained, "In the last 10 or 15 years, our taxes are going up and up, and our quality of life is going down, down, down." Other concerned citizens asked officers for information on how to establish community neighborhood watch organizations, how to join the county's auxiliary police, or just how to make their homes safer.
Deputy Inspector John Berry, commanding officer of the second precinct said that in one two-day period this month, one small section of Plainview had 10 burglaries. That was an unusually high number for that area, and for that period of time, he said. But Berry, and Inspector Donald Halbohn, commanding officer of the Eighth Precinct, both said they do not believe there has been any significant growth in the overall number of burglaries this year in their two precincts, which includes the Plainview and Old Bethpage communities. Police officials had no specific crime numbers at the meeting last night.
There is usually an increase in burglaries from October through the holidays, police said. Much of the increase is due to darkness coming earlier in the day. Burglars look to enter homes when no residents are there, and with the early darkness, they can tell when lights are out and homeowners are probably still at work.
Catching burglars is a high priority, Halbohn told the audience. "We have a lot of resources that are addressing these problems," Halbohn said. "It's not for a lack of trying ... I'm personally offended by burglars ... I tell my guys, pound those back streets and lock up a burglar."
Both commanding officers said residents can help themselves and their community by looking out for their neighbor's property as well as their own, using automatic timers to turn on lights after dark, by keeping an eye out for suspicious people and unfamiliar vehicles, and calling 911 if something does not seem right.
Sketches of recent burglary suspects were made available to those there.
"We rely on you guys to help us out alot," Berry said.
But Berry, and Inspector Donald Halbohn, commanding officer of the Eighth Precinct, both said they do not believe there has been any significant growth in the overall number of burglaries this year in their two precincts, which includes the Plainview and Old Bethpage communities. Police officials had no specific crime numbers at the meeting last night.
But Berry, and Inspector Donald Halbohn, commanding officer of the Eighth Precinct, both said they do not believe there has been any significant growth in the overall number of burglaries this year in their two precincts, which includes the Plainview and Old Bethpage communities. Police officials had no specific crime numbers at the meeting last night.
Are these guys joking. Someone tell the public the truth already.
