Sunday night we heard this alarming news from the Brooklynian message board:
Several NYPD cruisers were parked at and near the corner of Park Place and Underhill tonight. It looked like the police were going door to door along the brownstones and townhouses on the south side of Park Place near Underhill. Anyone know the scoop?
After some discussion it’s now revealed that last Sunday the police finally captured two 15-year old burglars that have been breaking into multiple buildings in Prospect Heights though roof top access. An informed member reports:
They were both 15. Caught on a rooftop on Park Plc. They tripped a silent alarm when trying to enter a house. They were stopped by a security gate mounted inside the window. When trying to flee the top floor tenant heard noise on the roof and called 911 in addition to the alarm company calling. There have been several unsuccesful attempts to burglarize that home and many many many successful burglaries in the surrounding area.
We’re glad to hear they were caught but saddened at the audacity of these teenagers and even more upset at the state of Brooklyn’s, and for that matter the larger country’s, youth.
—E.C. Stephens
6 responses so far ↓
1 RJC // Dec 16, 2008 at 9:04 am
They were probably working for older kids/adults. 15 is the magic age of no jail time and a slap on the wrist, at least according to the “kids in the know” around my neighborhood. It’s a way into the business/gangs for younger kids. They do the dirty work and get a small cut, and they get an easier in to future escapades.
Then again, maybe they are just enterprising youngsters.
2 hasidad // Dec 16, 2008 at 2:08 pm
trash. throw ’em off the roof!
3 Steve // Dec 16, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Too bad the owner who called the police didn’t have a premises permit and pumped a few rounds into these kids. That, along with a closed casket, would stop the burglaries right quick.
4 BakiShamil // Dec 17, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I would use my gun if it would happen on my roof
5 Park Placer // Dec 17, 2008 at 3:12 pm
A few months ago someone got the hatch off my roof and a few panes of glass were taken out from the skylight. Fortunately, the noise of a house full of folks scared them away and we noticed the attempt to enter. This is an old Bklyn spot of entry, along with the back door/windows to the garden. Everyone should check their roof access.
6 That was my house! // Dec 22, 2008 at 3:48 pm
If anyone else on this blog has experienced break-in attempts, please call the 77th right away. They’re trying to build a useful case and get to the source (ie: maybe not only two 14-year-olds — yes, they’re actually 14) of the rash of break-ins. If you see anything suspicious, please call 911 right away. The kids run across a line of accessible roofs and try every building. As a cop told me after attempt #2, the best defenses are window gates and nosy neighbors!