Hi All,

PO Thompson Wen, our Crime Prevention at 110th Precinct, advised us that we had two burglaries in Cometland during the week of 9/17 to 9/23.  Both of these locations are near the Maspeth/Middle Village border.  We'll hear crime stats for the entire month from our three precincts at our meeting this Monday.  Can't believe no one heard them prying open the security bars!!  Just because we haven't heard what's been going on during the month and alerting you, doesn't mean nothing is happening.  Keep looking out your windows!!  Please pass this along to friends/neighbors in the area.

• 85 Street/57 Avenue, apartment front door entry, unknown perpetrators.
• 54 Avenue/83 Street, side window entry with the "security bars" pryed open.

DSNY Reminder

Starting this Monday, October 1st though April 1st, you can begin placing your trash out for collection at 4:00 pm.

"Residential units may place receptacles out for collection on the sidewalk, right by the curb, no earlier than 5:00 pm the day before their scheduled collection, and no earlier than 4:00 pm from October 1st to April 1st.  Residential units must remove receptacles from their collection place by 9:00 pm on their collection day.  If collection occurs after 4:00 pm, receptacles must be removed by 9:00 am the next day."  16-120(c).  Fine:  $100- $300

Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association
www.cometcivic.com

Hi All,
 
Dont' forget our COMET meeting this Monday, 10/1 at 7:00 pm at the Bethzatha Church, 85-20 57th Avenue.  Parking available. Directions on our website at:  www.cometcivic.com
 
On Thursday, September 27th, DI Michael Cody, and Lt. Lombardi, 104th Precinct, together with Comet President Roe Daraio and Comet VP Michael Harte, met with residents of 71st Street at Maspeth Town Hall to discuss how to resolve problems they are having with a disorderly neighbor.  They were also offered the opportunity to ask questions to help address other issues on their block.  In a nutshell, here's some information that was given to them and might be helpful to you in the future.

• If a neighbor is playing music or is being very loud and disturbing the neighbors, call 311.  You can make a noise complaint during the day as well as at night as long as the noise is unnecessary.
• If a neighbor is harassing you by calling you names, making obscene gestures, banging on the walls and yelling to you, call 311.  Always keep a log of the complaint numbers when you call in case you may need them in the future.
• If, for any reason, you feel threatened by someone and feel that you might be in physical danger, call 911.  Be very clear to the operator that you feel you are in danger and explain why.
• If the person comes on to your property to bang on your door and yell to you, he/she can be arrested for trespassing if you have a "No Trespassing" sign posted on your property.  Keep in mind that "bottle collectors" and "scrappers" cannot trespass on your private property.  Remember, they might be using that as a ruse to case your house and burglarize it.
• If you call the police to address a problem, you should be willing to press charges, if necessary.  If you don't pursue the complaint, the perpetrator will feel that he can get away with it.  If he goes to jail, he might think twice the next time!
• Neighbors on a block need to stick together - there's strength in numbers!  And please, don't always rely on one person to do the dirty work.  If something is negatively affecting you, call 311 or 911 - don't wait for someone else to do it.  In some instances, Orders of Protection are issued to the victim if the problem persists.
• The police DO NOT give out the name of the complainant.  It is important that you provide a callback number in case they have some followup questions.

Other Questions/Issues

• If you see a suspicious person looking into cars or private property, call 911.  Tell the operator exactly what he is doing and say you believe he is looking to steal something.  Give a description of the person and the direction he is traveling.
• A taxicab/livery cab is considered a residential (private) vehicle.  A private bus is not considered a private vehicle and is not allowed to park on the street overnight between the hours of 9:00 pm - 5:00 am.  Call 311 with the plate number, vehicle description, address where it's parked.
• If someone is parking a commercial vehicle on private property, or has an unlicensed/unregistered vehicle stored on their property, it is a violation.  Call 311 and they will connect you to the Department of Buildings.
• If there is no alternate side parking regulations, a vehicle cannot be parked on the street at the same location for more than 7 days.  Call 311 with the plate, etc.  The NYPD will then observe it and write a summons, if necessary.
• Loud motorcyclists can receive a summons.  They are difficult to catch, but if you can give the police a time when it usually occurs, they will address it.  Give a complaint like this, or other problem that occurs on a regular basis, to your precinct's Community Affairs officer.  You can call the precinct if you don't have a direct number and they will switch you over.
• If something is stolen from your yard or vehicle, please report it.  The police patrol the communities that are having crime problems.  If you don't report it, the precinct doesn't know it happened and will concentrate their efforts elsewhere.
• Please pass this information on to others in the neighborhood!!

 

Hi All,

One of our members was nice enough to pass this along.  If you have allergies, asthma or other breathing disorder, you might want to keep your windows closed.

Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association
www.cometcivic.com

__________________________________

Notification issued 9/12/12 at 5:40 PM. The Department of Health will spray for mosquitoes to help prevent West Nile Virus tomorrow, 9/13, from 7:30 PM until 6:00 AM on 9/14, in Queens zip codes 11355, 11358, 11361, 11365, 11366, 11373, 11374, 11378, 11379, 11423, 11427, & 11432. In case of inclement weather, spraying will be delayed until Monday, 9/17, during the same hours. DOH recommends that whenever possible, stay indoors during spraying. 

For more info: http://on.nyc.gov/O2Xl3v or call 311.

Hi All,

Captain Santana, Executive Officer, of the 110th Precinct's sent us a follow up in response to a question raised at our Comet meeting on Monday.  Please folks, this creep is in a car and can turn up anywhere, especially near schools. The 104th and 108th are also aware of this individual but our precincts need the community's help.  If you see someone who resembles this description, call 911 immediately!!  

______________

A question came up regarding a male following children near the schools. There' s information provided by the victims, description of a Male Indian 6'0", 230 lbs, light mustache, brown eyes and black curly hair. The possible suspect was driving a sedan, white in color with a flag type sticker on the driver's door. The sticker is green, white and orange with a star symbol in center. There is a total of four incidents in the 110 Pct., 54 Ave & Vanhorn St., 55 Ave & 85 St., 52 Ave & Seabury St., 53 Ave & Seabury.
 
The point of contact for School Safety Div. is  School Safety Sgt. Williams 718-699-5417. I spoke with her and made her aware of your group. She is willing to attend your meetings and I recommend you coordinate with her.
  
Gregory Santana
Captain
Executive Officer, 110th Precinct

Hi All,

DI Michael Cody wants everyone to be aware of the following scams that occurred in the 104th Precinct.

1. Yesterday, a 63-year old male on 57th Drive in Maspeth received a telephone call from someone claiming to be from Con Ed.  The caller stated that if he didn't pay immediately, his electricity would be turned off.  The caller instructed him to go to a local CVS and purchase a "Pay Pal" card (similar to the Green Dot card that we alerted you about in a previous Alert) for $576.  He was told to call the scammer back with the PIN # to activate the card.  Needless to say, the victim is out $576.
2. A second incident occurred recently in Glendale.  An 89-year old woman received a call allegedly from someone in the US Embassy in Mexico.  The caller told the victim that her grandson was in trouble and needed $1,500 wired to him.  She received a second call saying he needed an additional $3,000 for legal fees.  This victim is out $4,500.

• Scammers are good at what they do and catch you off-guard.  Don't fall for it!  They move from one community to another.
• NO utility company will turn your service off without adequate warning, and Con Ed and other utilities may not take "Pay Pal" or "Green Dot" credit cards.  Always check with your utility company to verify any call that someone made asking you for money.
• Even if you receive an "urgent" call from a stranger about a family member, verify it before you send money.  This scam has been around for quite a while.
• At our Comet meeting on Monday, Captain Santana, 110th Precinct, alerted us to a scam involving a supposed "healer" who conned an Asian woman out of a lot of money.
• There is a strong possibility that scammers are targeting seniors who are unaware of these con games.  Please pass the word, especially to senior citizens who are easy targets.
• If ANYONE asks you for money, for ANY reason, think twice and check it out first!
• If you have been a victim,  don't be embarrassed, file a police report so our precincts know what's going on.
• Please pass this on to friends, family, neighbors.

Don't forget to VOTE today if your area has a Primary and you are registered with a party!!

Hi All,

Great news from DI Leyson, 110th Precinct!  Excellent job from a Woodside resident who called in a suspicious vehicle and the officers who made the arrests!  Keep up the good work!  These crooks burglarized areas of all three of our precincts!  

 ________________________

The information on the Burglary arrest I told you about is as follows.  Information was received about a male/female team committing Burglaries in the boro (not the same as the 104 arrests).  They were driving in a white van.  An alert 911 caller in the 108 Pct gave the plate number of a "suspicious van".  That vehicle was linked to a Burglary that occurred in the 104 Pct.  An inquiry revealed that a Burglary did occur in the vicinity of the "suspicious auto" call. 

This information was put together by the Queens North BLAST Team under Captain Conforti (our former XO and now the CO of the 112 Pct).  They located the vehicle and conducted an operation that culminated in the arrest of these two individuals for a live Burglary on Friday, August 31 in the area of 54 Ave and Justice Aver (just across Queens Blvd).  They actually rammed two police vehicles when they were stopped.  Property from both the 104 & 108 Pct Burglaries was recovered and they were charged with the possession of stolen property.  The investigation's continuing.

The perps were AGOSTO, WILLIAM M/H/45 and CORDERO-BUENO, LYDIA, F/H/43.  Both gave upstate addresses. Both have been arrested in Queens North before.  He is in jail on $45,000 Bail and she is in on $18,000.

This was a great job by the BLAST Team which will have an effect on all of Cometland. Again, this would not have been possible without the community helping by being observant and calling in the license plate of the suspicious vehicle and letting us do our job putting that information to work!!!

Deputy Inspector Ronald D. Leyson
Commanding Officer
110th Precinct

Hi Everyone,

Received word from residents that two incidents occurred last night:

1. Elmhurst - at about 7:30 pm last night an Asian neighbor on Kneeland Avenue, 77#'s, came home to find the locks on her storm door and inside door broken.  She knew her children weren't home.  She walked in the house, spotted a male black, tall, stocky.  She screamed and the perpetrator fled, thank goodness, without injuring her.  A neighbor heard her screams and observed him fleeing down the community drive at Gorsline/Hillyer towards Queens Blvd.  The 110th Precinct responded and a report was taken.  Hope to hear more at our meeting on Monday.
2. Maspeth - As I was about to write this, I saw an email from a neighbor on 70th Street, 52#'s, who told me some lawn ornaments were stolen last night.  He just called and is waiting for the 104th to come and take a report.

• Please report ALL crimes so our precincts know what's going on! 
• The above burglary is on the Elmhurst/Woodside/Maspeth border so we all need to stay alert! 
• If you come home and observe anything suspicious at your house, do not enter.  Call 911!
• You can call your local precinct, speak with your Crime Prevention officer and ask for their FREE Home Security Survey.  He/she will come to your house and give you inexpensive ways to secure your property.
• Last but not least, keep looking out your windows! Many arrests are the result of calls from the community.

Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association

Saturday, September 8th -

9/11 Memorial Ceremony, 11:00 am, Veterans Square at Grand Avenue/69th Street.

Monday, September 10th -

COMET meeting, 7:00 pm at Bethzatha Church of God, 85-20 57th Avenue.  Directions on our website at www.cometcivic.com

Thursday, September 13th -

Primary election. There are two Primaries in the Comet area.  If you disgarded the brochure that was sent to you by the Board of Elections, you can log on to www.vote.nyc.ny.us and click pollsite locator (on left side of screen).  Type in your address and you'll find out if your area has a Primary. It will also let you know where you will be voting.  Don't forget, some poll sites were changed in our area!  You can also obtain a voter registration form on the site.

Sunday, September 23rd -

Car show at Maspeth Federal's parking lot.  Sponsored by Joe Wroblewski and Maspeth Federal in memory of Firefighter Kenneth Phelan who was killed on September 11th.  All proceeds to benefit Maspeth Town Hall Community Center.

Friday, October 12th -

An exhibition from the Irish American Heritage Museum will be at Maspeth Town Hall for about two weeks.  Event sponsored by Assembly Member Marge Markey.

Christina was able to pull up the map of the proposed city council lines.  There will be a comment period for residents who do not like the way the lines are drawn or who may like them.  When all is said and done, the approved new council districts will take effect on January 2014.  You will vote for your council member in November 2013.  Your council member is very important because they oversee City services such as sanitation, police, fire, etc.
 
Please look at the map and let us hear your comments.  The council members listed below are currently in these districts.  The 30th Council District is where it says Middle Village.  The black lines are the new districts - don't look at the colors.  We will keep you updated as to hearings on this issue.
 
26th Council District - Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer
29th Council District - Council Member Karen Koslowitz
30th Council District - Council Member Elizabeth Crowley

Hi Everyone,

The good news is that some folks in Maspeth are doing their "homework" and looking out their windows.  The bad news is that DI Cody, 104th Precinct, said that Maspeth is up six burglaries this year compared to last year, which means more folks need to keep their eyes pealed!  We'll hear how Elmhurst and Winfield residents did at our meeting on Monday when we hear the statistics from the 108th and 110th Precincts!

At approximately 3:30 am today, a 66th Street Maspeth resident called 911 to report two trespassers in the vicinity of 66th Street/53rd Avenue.  PO Hopson and her partner responded. Two perpetrators were apprehended as they were attempting to burglarize a residence on the block.  The male who was arrested has a criminal record and is a resident of the 115th Precinct.  The female, who was with him, is a resident of the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst.  What everyone needs to know is that the individual who called 911 for this incident had called 911 on a previous occasion to report trespassers on a building site, but they escaped.  This is one resident who is really looking out for the community!

Also, this afternoon, 104th Precinct Crime officers apprehended a female driving a stolen Mercedes in the vicinity of Grand Avenue/74th Street.  The vehicle was not stolen from the 104th.  Great job by the 104th!

We're not used to hearing about female burglars or car thieves, but they are out there!

Keep in mind that several recent arrests were as a result of someone calling 911. 

Please don't hesitate to call 911 if anyone's behavior looks suspicious! 

Roe Daraio, President
Comet Civic Association