Beware of Package Thieves in Woodhaven

We are hearing an increased number of thefts of packages from people’s front porches over the past few months. For the thief, it’s an easy score. He (or she) can follow a delivery truck and wait to see when a package is left on the porch because the intended recipient is not home. They wait until the truck pulls away, run onto the porch, and take your stuff.

Look at how brazen they are – this was sent to us this week from a resident of Woodhaven. This theft took place on 90th Avenue, between 78th & 80th streets and took far less time than it took the rightful owner to order their goods:

Broad daylight – walking on to your porch – walking away with your goods.

So what can we do about it?

For starters, notify the 102nd Precinct. Fill out a form. Do what you need to do to get this theft on file and notify the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (email: info@woodhaven-nyc.org, Phone 718-296-3735).

Even if it wasn’t an expensive item that got stolen; even if the company that sent it will replace it — report it. This will help the police develop a pattern (time, day, location) in order to try and catch these people.

You can also do something else that’s foolproof, and that’s to make sure you don’t have packages left on your porch.

1. Signature Required. When placing an order, you can give shipping instructions telling them that you do not want packages left on your porch – that they should be delivered directly into a live person’s hands who has to sign for it.
2. Track or Schedule Delivery. Ask for a tracking number so you can track your packages to try to be home at the time of delivery, or try to schedule shipment for a day you expect to be home.
3. Deliver Elsewhere. If you are not home a lot, perhaps you can have your packages delivered to a nearby friend who is home during the day (again, stating that it should be delivered to a live person).  Or, you can even have it delivered to where you work!

It’s better to take these preventative measures than to have your items stolen and have to post pictures of the thieves in hopes they will be caught (like the one below, another one from Woodhaven).

We hope to hear about some of these thieves being apprehended soon!

 

102nd Precinct Blood Drive June 26th

Your blood donation is always needed.

You may literally be the lifesaver for patients like Rafaello who require blood transfusions to support their cancer treatments, surgeries or other life threatening conditions.

Click here to see how blood donors saved Rafaello’s life.

Thank You for Caring!

For further information please contact Sgt. Brendan Dolan 718-805-3236 brendan.dolan@nypd.org

NYPD 102nd Precinct

Blood Drive

Thursday, June 26, 2014

1:00pm – 7:00pm

87-34 118^th Street,

Richmond Hill NY

102 Makes Major Drug Bust in Woodhaven

On Wednesday, January 15, 2014 the New York City Police Department’s Major Case Unit of Narcotics Borough Brooklyn North executed a search warrant at a mechanic auto shop located at 80-09 Atlantic Avenue.

An employee of the mechanic shop was selling cocaine out of the location. This individual was responsible for illegal drug activity which
adversely affects the quality of life for the members of the community. The Police need your help in keeping your neighborhood safe in drug free environment.

For drug related issues call the Mayor’s Drug Hotline at 1-888-374- DRUG(3784)
If you have information about past crimes call 1-800-577-TIPS
For crimes in progress please call 911
* All calls will be kept confidential

Operation ID: Woodhaven – Friday May 24th, 5PM to 8PM

The 102nd Precinct is working with the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association to help protect your valuables through Operation ID: Woodhaven – FRIDAY May 24th from 5 PM to 8 PM.   NOTE:  The 102 will also be registering bicycles — warm weather is here and that means bike thefts are up — do the smart thing and register your bike.  We’ll be at our office Friday, 5 to 8 PM, 84-20 Jamaica Avenue.

Operation Identification is offered FREE OF CHARGE by the New York City Police Department. The program involves registering your portable valuables such as computers, fax machines, copiers, etc. with the Police Department.  Registration for each item takes less than a minute.  There are a few great reasons to do this —

• Stolen property in the possession of a thief is easily traceable to its rightful owner.
• Found property can easily be identified and returned to the rightful owner.

Bonus: Besides registering electronics, cell phones and bicycles in the Operation ID program you will be able to register your autos in the HEAT and CAT programs; and set up appointments to have your car VIN Etched.

When you register for these programs you will get a decal which will be affixed to your vehicle’s rear window.  The Combat Auto Theft (CAT) yellow sticker means that the car is generally not used between 1AM and 5AM — if the NYPD sees a car with that sticker on the road between those hours, the NYPD can stop that vehicle.

There is a CAT Program for Commuters — same idea except the yellow sticker has a black border — and this means the car is generally parked between 10AM and 4PM.

Majority of persons arrested for auto theft are typically under 25 years of age.  To register in the Help End Auto Theft (HEAT) program you must be over 40 years old.  You will sign a waiver that no persons under 25 years old will be driving your vehicle and you will get a bright RED sticker.  By registering with this program you give the policve the right to stop the auto anytime a person apparently under the age of 25 is operating it.

VIN Etching

You will also be able to make an appointment to get your vehicle etched — it’s a fast and easy process — and the 102 will make an appointment to come to your house to do it.

• The auto’s vehicle identification number is etched onto all of the vehicles glass.
• Serves to deter theft and trace the stolen parts.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop us a line at info@woodhaven-nyc.org or call 718-296-3735 and leave a message.

 

102 Pct. Community Council – February 2013

February’s 102nd Precinct Community Council meeting was held last night (02/19) at 7 PM in the basement of the Richmond Hill Library.

Reminder:  The NYPD’s Community Affairs Office is coming to Woodhaven TONIGHT (2/20) – 8 PM at the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Avenue) to discuss the Blockwatcher program.

The meeting began with the awarding of the Cop of the Month, an officer from the Conditions unit which had been concentrating their patrol on Jamaica Avenue because of some recent robberies and larcenies targeting the elderly.

Captain Sautner explained that they had received a radio call of a female being robbed on 88th Avenue and 86th Street – the woman, 58 years old, had been knocked down and had her purse taken.  Because the officers were nearby they were able to catch the criminal – a young male, 17, well known to the officers, known to have a bit of a drug problem.

The officers secured the property of the victim and made a positive identification.  Turned out he had stolen a pocketbook the day before on Jamaica Avenue between Woodhaven Boulevard and 92nd Street (grabbed a pocketbook from a laundromat and fled).  Subsequently he knocked down a 70 year old woman around the corner and took her purse.  He confessed to these 2 crimes and another – so they got him for 4 major crimes, he’s got a court date in February.  He’s currently on probation and officers have already been to his house twice.  Nice job!

(We asked — he was not the same suspect in the attacks we reported on recently by a young man on a bike).

Overall, Captain Sautner reported that crime is up a little compared to the previous 28 day period, but down from the same period year to date from last year.  The Captain reported an uptick in car break ins as well as home robberies (people go away for a few days, come back and find that their house was broken into).  These crimes have been spread out over the entire command (102 Precinct which covers Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill East, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, and the Northern part of Ozone Park).

The Captain noted that the 102nd Precinct offers a free survey of your home.  The 102 Precinct’s safety officer will come over to your home, look for weak spots — he will write up a full report for you, offering suggestions on how you can make your home more secure.  If interested, call the Community Affairs office 718-805-3215.

The Captain also recommended keeping an eye out for one of their etching events.  You can get your automobile etched at one of the periodic safety events held by elected officials.  You should also get your portables etched — iPods, iPhones, laptops, etc.  The Woodhaven Residents Block Association will host one soon (date to be announced).

The Captain also wanted to stress pedestrian and driver safety.  They 102 has been analyzing accident prone locations within the precinct.  He noted that we had a fatality last week, a car coming Northbound on Woodhaven Boulevard had the light – the pedestrian was clipped, it wasn’t at a high rate of speed (no criminality involved).

Overall, he noted that it seems like the fault lies 50/50 between pedestrians and drivers.  He said that it’s easier to address vehicle safety — they can step up enforcement for cars speeding or running red lights, they can also make recommendations to DOT whether it be better lighting or other recommendations.

As for pedestrians he said that there is not a phone call that is so urgent you can’t wait to cross the street to answer.  He asked for help spreading the word to residents to be more aware of their surroundings — not only for accidents, but for criminals who prey on people who are distracted.  Captain Sautner also said that the 102 Precinct in looking to create a comprehensive plan to get the word out to residents to be more aware.

The next 102 Precinct Community Council Meeting is Tuesday March 19th at 7 PM in the basement of the Richmond Hill Library.

102 Precinct Holds Blood Drive – February 22nd

The 102nd Precinct works hard to serve and protect the residents of Woodhaven, Richmond Hill, Kew Gardens and Ozone Park 365 days a year.  And now they are turning to those they protect for help for a few hours.

The 102is holding a Blood Drive on Friday, February 22nd from 12 PM to 6 PM at the 102nd Precinct which is located at 87-34 118th Street in Richmond Hill.  Each donation received will help to save up to THREE lives.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Bring ID with signature or photo.
• Minimum weight 110 lbs.
• Age 16 – 75 (16 year olds must have parental permission. Age 76 and over need doctor’s note)
• Eat well (low fat) & drink fluids
• No tattoos for past 12 months

For questions concerning medical eligibility call 1-800-688-0900.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact 102 Pct. Community Affairs at (718) 805-3215.

Is This The Same Guy?

Update:  On April 1st, a woman in Elmhurst was attacked and raped (click here, scroll down).  The sketch of him is very similar to the Richmond Hill rapist from 2012 — see for yourself and compare:

The 2012 Richmond Hill rapist was described as: “25 to 35 years old, between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-7 and approximately 200 pounds with spiked hair.”

The 2013 Elmhurst rapist was described as: “25 to 30 years old, 150 to175 pounds with black spiked hair.”

****************************************************

On Sunday, 5/27/2012 a man raped a woman on 89th Avenue between 102nd and 104th streets.  Although the story says the rape happened in Woodhaven, it was actually in Richmond Hill.  Click here for story.

On Sunday, 1/13/2013 a man attacked a woman in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Click here for that story.

Last night, on Twitter, someone made a remark about the resemblance between the sketch of the Richmond Hill suspect and surveillance video of the Williamsburg suspect.  Here they are, so you can compare — similar jowls, or jawline.  Big ears.  Spiky hair.  Eyes look similar.  We have passed along the information to the NYPD to see what they think.  But we’d like to hear your opinion — make sure you vote in our poll below.

102 Precinct Community Council – January 2013

The following are some comments from the 102 Precinct Community Council meeting which was held on January 15, 2013 in the basement of the Richmond Hill Library.

Captain Henry “Hank” Sautner states that they suffered a” little bit of a rough end to the year.”  The 102 finished about 4.5 percent up in crime overall, the increase primarily driven by robberies.  He’s worked with his staff and tried a new approach particularly on the “western end” of the community.  Though its way too early to get excited, they are seeing dividends.  Robberies have been down 4 percent since they began the new approach.  Crime down 25% to start the year (compared to prior 4-week averages).

Captain Sautner reiterates that “we do have a robbery issue.”  In particular, a “Pattern 159” which he describes as “Disturbing.”  It’s a late teen to early 20s, male Black or Hispanic riding his bicycle preying upon middle aged to older women, riding up behind them and forcibly removing their purses and cell phones.

The 102 is expending much energy on this and the investigation is moving forward.  “The fact is that we’re going to need help from the community to catch this guy,” Captain Sautner says.  Click here to see the wanted flyer.

Next up, the School Bus Strike.  Scheduled for Wednesday.  The city is making contingency plans to make sure our kids get back and forth to school.  There is a big bus depot (Logan) on Atlantic and 97th.  People have the right to assemble there and strike, so the NYPD is already on the scene to make sure it is done safely, with no vandalism, and no one getting hurt.  “The only people that really get hurt here are the children,” the captain said.  Update:  The strike began early Wednesday and the 102 was on the scene:

Captain Sautner goes on today that he’s a big believer in the broken windows theory.  “The idea is to get a handle on the small things, the quality of life things.  If you can keep those in check it keeps the bigger things from spreading.  People may see drinking on the corner or smoking weed as harmless – no, it gives the appearance of disorder and it can lead to bigger things.”

The Captain took time to honor two officers as January’s Cop of the Month for stopping some individuals in the midst of an altercation at 85th Street and 88th Avenue and, in the process, finding a large stash of drugs.  Here is Captain Sautner with the details:

We raised the issue of prostitution that was discussed in this week’s South Forum and we shared a story from a resident — a teacher in a local school who lives nearby and sees them frequently says that some of the girls were as young as 16.  The Captain notes that he has dealt with prostitution throughout his career at various commands – states that it is a crime that preys upon the vulnerable.  However, he hasn’t heard that the women were that young.  He says that he will reach out to his counterparts in Queens Vice and see what they can do.  As far as the location goes, the 102 has made at least 6 arrests at that corner in his brief tenure (12 weeks).  He says that the fact that they keep coming back is unsatisfactory and the 102 will have to up the ante.  Reports that they are young warrants a more detailed look and he would not be opposed to any agency coming in to try and talk to the girls.

A real estate agent on Jamaica Avenue spoke out, reporting a lot of discarded weed bags, loitering on the streets by teens hanging out in storefronts.  He thanks Maria and the BID for her efforts but says its getting out of control.  Captain Sautner noted that he had the holiday post (extra cops), which is now over.  He will try to use the business conditions unit as much as possible with a big focus on west end of Jamaica Avenue.  As for the kids just hanging, he feels that PAL might be able to help.

Captain Sautner goes on to say that some kids are just hanging, getting PAL involved.  Unfair to lump them all into a group; bad teenagers wreaking havoc.  Businesses know that young adults are going to be around and as long as they are around they need to behave like responsible adults.

Meeting ended around 8:30.  Next meeting of the 102 Precinct Community Council is on Tuesday, February 19th at 7 PM in the basement of the Richmond Hill Library.