Beware!  See the following message from Captain Cody, 104th Precinct.  Please pass this on, particularly to your Hispanic neighbors/friends.
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There is a street scam you should know about vs elderly, mainly Hispanic females. A male and female approach and discuss lottery ticket winning and offer to split-standard con but sometimes with a twist - if the mark (victim) resists they will say they have a gun threaten to shoot and either tell mark to give up jewelry or walk them into residence and do same.  It happened 2X in Ridgewood and Glendale over past month.

None thus far in Cometland but its a city wide pattern.

Again mark/vic is mainly Hispanic as the entire scam is based on lottery winnings and conducted in Spanish but I just want you to be aware they could target any elderly person.

For those of you who didn't come to our meeting last night, I'm listing the crime stat highlights.  For those of you who DID attend, be advised that Captain Cody said we had two more car thefts.  See below.    104th (Maspeth)

• 2 Grand Larcenies - the one that could have been prevented was a car window was broken on Hull Avenue and property was removed.
• Car thefts (GLAs) - as of last night's meeting we had one stolen car on Clinton Avenue.  As of today, we had two more - yesterday a 2010 Toyota as stolen from in front of 69 #'s on 53rd Avenue.  The second was a 2004 Acura stolen this past Saturday from 66 #'s on Clinton Avenue. 
• Folks, especially in northern Maspeth and the Plateau, need to keep their eyes pealed - looks like we're being targeted!

110th Precinct (Elmhurst)

• Robberies - one occurred on Woodhaven/Hoffman Drive at 2:00 am.  The second one occurred on 85 #'s on 57th Avenue at 7:15 pm.  A man had his chain stolen.  Please folks, if you have anything valuable don't flaunt it.  Keep expensive jewelry, cell phones, etc. out of sight!
• Burglaries - one occurred on 58th/87 #s through the rear window.  The second occurred on 83/54th through the rear window. 
• Car thefts (GLA) - one car was stolen in the vicinity of Seabury/57th Avenue.  The second was stolen from QB/Albion which is the north side of QB but close to Cometland.
• Folks, especially in the vicinity of 57th Avenue need to be careful and keep their eyes pealed!  We don't usually have this much activity in that area.

108th Precinct (Woodside/Winfield)   Captain Powers could not provide the statistics, but said there were no major crimes in our area.  This DOES NOT mean to let your guard down.  Crooks move around to avoid being caught!  

I heard from a west Maspeth resident and a northern Maspeth resident.   Here's what they say.  Everyone has to keep their eyes/ears open because these incidents haven't stopped.  These characters move around and no block is safe.  If you see anything suspicious call 911.  If you are a victim please take the time to report it.  Pass this on to others in our area. _______________________

West Maspeth   

Hey Roe,    fyi, Last night sometime they broke into a 2009 Ford Explorer across the street from me, ( 57 Road & 58 Street)  The owner is waiting for the police now..  He also has cameras , will be looking at the film.   Just found out they broke 2 more windows on cars down the block on 58 street, The one owner said they did not take anything , all the windows were cars parked on the right side, drivers side windows... Police came.
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northern Maspeth/vicinity of Mazeau Street/Grand Avenue  

Hello Roe,
I just wanted to let you know, that my neighbor next door had his window cut out of his rag top convertable recently.  He didn't call the police because nothing was stolen.  I had told him he should've at least reported it but he has been ill and didn't call the police.  I am thinking somebody either stole his window or was trying to see if anything of value was inside.  I told him the next time something like that happens, to report it.  I just wanted to let you know for your record. 

Dick from Winfield reports:   Rear tires and rims stolen from Honda Accord (late model) sometime last night or early this morning (8/31/11).  Car was parked on 72 St. just south of 51 Ave.  The owner, who was visiting with my neighbor, has been in in Florida.  The owner must file a report when he gets back.
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Richie from Elmhurst heard from his friend in Maspeth:   Wanted to tell you that again, this morning, an SUV parked on the corner of 59th Dr and Fresh Pond Rd was broken into last night (or early this morning)- not sure when.  The driver side window was smashed and glass all over the street.  I don't think the owner of the truck was aware yet because we saw it at 6:30am.  I don't know who the truck belongs to either or I would have rang their doorbell to notify them. I think the 104 needs to set up a patrol night watch into the early morning hours when these break-ins occur and then these creeps will be caught, and word will get around so nobody else tries to do the same nonsense. It happens on the same exact streets all the time... there is no excuse why we can't have our area patrolled. These are getting to be out of control now and I'm seriously fed up.

The 104th sent this over to me.  The arrests occurred on the MV/Maspeth border.  No telling how far and wide these creeps were hitting but hopefully this will help cut down on the break ins.   They were caught with GPS's and were traveling on foot.  Pleae pass this on to anyone you think might be interested.
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Early this morning at about 3:02 am the 104 Precinct responded to the corner of Eliot Avenue and 70 Street in regards to individuals breaking into vehicles. Upon arrival the responding Officers arrested three individuals: Patrick Jasienowski 18, Middle Village, Nicholas Dangelo 19, Middle Village and a 15 year old Juvenile who resides in the confines of the 112 Pct.
 
All of the perpetrators were charged with 4 counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, 3 counts of criminal possession of stolen property and three counts of petit larceny.
 
The arresting Officer is PO Joseph Verderber

For those of you awakened by an NYPD helicopter at about 3-4:20 am this morning, here's what Captain Cody reports:
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"Burglary of a premises at 53-03 65 Place-Beauty Parlor perp caught in act and fled-Aviation aided in search and apprehension-investigation ongoing-1 under arrest by my a/c team"

The 104th just called to let me know that an individual was arrested in connection with a car break in on Menahan Street and another on Grove Street.  Alan Vega, male Hispanic, 46 years old, 5'9", carrying a backpack, was arrested at about 1:00 am this morning while riding his bicycle.  He was caught with 3 GPS's, 3 I-Pods and cash.  He has been arrested multiple times in Brooklyn.  It is assumed that he might be responsible for the Maspeth incidents but with no video or eye witnesses it will be difficult, if not impossible, to charge him with the crimes.  The investigation is still ongoing to see if other precincts can connect him to incidents in their commands.  By the way, this individual was arrested as a result of a 911 call by a resident.   Please do not assume this is the only person doing car break ins.  Do not leave items in your vehicles.  Don't forget the crooks stealing rims/tires are still on the loose!    I heard back from the 110th Precinct.  According to PO Garland, there were no reports of rims/tires being taken off vehicles in our section of Elmhurst.  One Comet member insists her nephew's tires were stolen but apparently a report wasn't filed nor was one filed for the vehicle in the vicinity of Crowley Park.  NO REPORT, NO CRIME STATISTIC, NO ADDITIONAL POLICE COVERAGE IN OUR AREA.  PO Garland did tell me we had one robbery in the vicinity of Broadway/51st Avenue.  A woman was pushed and her cell phone was stolen.  Please keep your electronics out of sight!  And please, report crime!    

Residents and business owners, We've had several robbery incidents in the area.  The perpetrators are two male blacks.  The victim of the latest robbery followed the perpetrators and observed them getting into a blue Civic with "FLA" as part of the license plate.  They fled toward Eliot Avenue.  Here are the incidents so far - a couple are repeats from my email last week but you need to see the connection.   

• 7/7/11, 4:00 am, Queens Blvd/65th, 2 male black perpetrators entered business, punched the worker in the face and stole $4,000.
• 7/12/11, 6:50 pm, Maurice/64th, 2 male black perpetrators entered business, punched worker in the face and stole cash.
• 7/16/11, 10:00 pm, 69th/Calamus, 2 male black perpetrators approached a 16-year old male, punched him in the face and stole his iphone.
• 7/25/11, about 11:00 pm, vicinity of 86th St/60th Ave (just outside the Comet area in Middle Village), two male black perpetrators punched a male in the face, stole his knapsack, iphone, etc. (I think this is near the footbridge from Elmhurst to Middle Village.)

If you see suspicious males lurking around - or driving around in a blue Civic with "FLA" as part of the license plate, call 911 immediately.  Tell the operator, "We've had several robberies in the area and these individuals (or car/license plate they are driving around in) matches the description.  Our precincts are aware of the conditon and will respond immediately.  Please pass this on to your friends and neighbors in the area.  These men are in a car so we don't know where they'll hit next!  Since all these incidents occurred near a precinct border it's likely the perpetrators will be in another precinct by the time 911 is called making it difficult to track them. On a positive note, south Elmhurst had no robberies but PO Rivera, Community Affairs at the 110th, will check to see if any robberies fit this pattern on the north side of Queens Blvd.  However, there are two incidents in Elmhurst that you need to be aware of.  One was a purse snatch (grand larceny) that occurred in the Woodhaven station on 7/7 at 3:35 pm. The other was a residential burglary that occurred in the vicinity of Seabury/57th Avenue on 7/8 through the rear of the house.  Please be alert to what is going on around you!

PO Youssef, Community Affairs from the 108th Precinct provided us with our crime stats for the past 28 days.  There's good and bad news.  Folks who live on the Maspeth/Woodside/Elmhurst border need to be aware.  I should have the stats for Maspeth and south Elmhurst by the beginning of next week.   0 murders; 0 rapes; 4 robberies; 1 felony assault (husband/wife); 1 car theft (GLA); 3 grand larcenies.  One incident was a bike that was chained on Calamus Ave/72nd St and was stolen on 6/26 at noontime.   Robberies

• Calamus Ave/69th St - on 7/16 a 16-year old male victim was punched in the face by 2 male black perpetrators at 10:00 pm. His iphone was stolen.
• 65th Place/Queens Blvd - on 7/5 a worker in a commercial establishment was punched in the face at 4:00 am and approx $4,000 was stolen.  Perpetrators were 2 male blacks.
• 69th St/49th Ave - a male Hispanic perpetrator attempted to rob the victim at 2:40 pm.
• 69th St/48th Ave - on 7/4 at 1:40 pm the victim left his keys in the car, came out and saw a male white perpetrator in vehicle - he tried to thwart the car theft by hanging on the side of the vehicle which caused injuries.

The commercial robbery aside, all 3 remaining robberies were crimes of opportunity.  Be alert to your surroundings and do not turn onto a side street if you think you're being followed.  Call 911 or go into a store.  And for heaven's sake don't leave your keys in your vehicle!  Please pass this along to your friends/family in the neighborhood.

Hi Everyone,

I promised to update you if there is anything you need to be aware of in the Maspeth area.  Not surprisingly, we're having a car theft problem (GLAs) on the border with the 108th Precinct.    In order for you to see a clear pattern between the two communities, I'm listing the locations in Maspeth that were just given to me by the 104th and below that the GLAs in the Woodside area that were already sent to you and given to us by the 108th at our meeting on Monday.    Crime can happen anywhere so EVERYONE always needs to be alert.  However, it is imperative that those of you who live on the Maspeth/Woodside border and in Elmhurst near Calamus/51st Avenues be especially alert to any suspicious vehicles driving around.  If you are hesitant to call 911, get as much info as you can and pass it on to me.  I'll give it to our precincts.  The Maspeth burglaries follow the GLAs.  If you see a stranger on your neighbor's property, call 911 immediately!!  

Maspeth 104th GLAs (car thefts)

• 5/16 - 73rd/52nd Road, Honda Pilot was stolen.
• 5/22 - 52nd/62nd Street, 2011 Toyota Landcruiser was stolen.
• 5/23 - 51st Road/69th Street, a Toyota 4 Runner was stolen.
• 5/20 - Maurice Avenue/56th, a 2009 Toyota Matrix was stolen.

Woodside 108th GLAs

• 2010 Toyota was stolen from 51st/64th Street (most likely 51 #'s on Maurice)
• 2008 Lexus was stolen from 51st Avenue/71st Street
• 2011 Accura was stolen from 51st Road/72nd Street
• 1999 Honda was stolen from 69th Street/Garfield Avenue
• 2001 Chrysler was stolen from 69th Street/Maurice Avenue
• Honda motorcycle was stolen from 59th Street/47th Avenue

Maspeth Burglaries

• 53rd/65th Place - barbershop, front door/lock was broken.  $300 cash, plasma TV taken.
• 52nd/69th Street - entry through rear unlocked bedroom window.Jewelry, laptop was taken.
• 53rd/57th Avenue - more than $38,000 in jewelry, cash stolen.  One arrest, one escaped.
• 59th/58th Road - front door damage, complainant states house was broken into between 1:00 pm/1:05 pm.  Jewelry, cash was taken.
• 58th/61st Street - perpetrator entered through 2nd floor window and left through basement.  Jewelry, cash was taken.