There seems to be some indication, per the email flow on the Boerum Hill group that break-ins may be on the rise. (Not that you don’t see shattered car glass on the curb in a lot of Brooklyn neighborhoods, especially Williamsburg.) In any case, here’s the email:
On 12/26 my car, parked on Nevins @ Pacific was broken into (an old Volvo) but nothing was stolen for there was nothing there. I tried to notify police, but they didn’t show. I canceled the call after waiting nearly 2 hours. Early in December our car was broken into–nothing in it to steal. On Jan 2 or 3 I noticed a new model car on Bond, between Dean and Pacific had the rear vent window broken. Does it do any good to report these incidents, definitely on the rise.
And there is also this one:
Last night, a guest’s car was broken into, its back window was smashed, and an ipod and game boy were stolen out of the glove compartment– on Dean, between Bond and Hoyt, some time after 3 AM.
We do enjoy the part about the police not responding. Uplifting.
7 responses so far ↓
1 jj // Jan 5, 2009 at 11:37 am
Believe it or not the police have more important things to respond to before they get to a past petit larceny. I doubt it was two hours, and if it was, you should go demand that your neighborhood put out more than 3 cars to cover an entire neigboorhood.
And don’t ask a rank and file cop. They are not responsible for increasing manpower. Blame the mayor.
ps- And please will most of you idiots stop leaving your valuables clearly visible in your cars…only later to tempt the criminals and have your car broken into. Then you idiots want to blame the cops for not being by your car to prevent such break ins. Take responsibility and stop being stupid and blaming cops for lack of common sense.
2 JImmy // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:05 pm
File a police report. the same thing was happening in Windsor Terrace, many car breakings, they were looking for GPS devices, eventually the people were caught, but the police said the more reports they get the more they will look into the areas and be more vigilant..
3 Jack // Jan 5, 2009 at 1:35 pm
JJ, it has nothing to do with valuables. You do have tons of homeless and mentally ill folks wandering the streets of Boerum Hill near where these incidents have happened. They see a gym bag on a passenger seat, they break in and more often than not just end up with dirty clothes.
What amazes me is this weekend while walking around Boerum Hill and the Smith Street area I saw TONS of great stuff put on the street FOR FREE!!! Stereos, good clothes, books, DVDs, toys, etc…. All with very clear FREE signs on them.
So note to folks breaking into cars here: Just get a pushcart and walk around the neighborhood. You’ll find TONS of good stuff without damaging anyone else’s property.
4 jj // Jan 5, 2009 at 2:50 pm
jack, at times, even those who leave no valuables in their car are unfortunate (like me) and still get their cars broken into. But since I had no valuables inside I lost much, except peace of mind.
However, Jack, you are wrong. I have spoken to many detectives and valuables (especially visible wires, spare change, GPS, bags, purses, etc) are a huge factor in break ins. These cars with valuables are broken into at a much higher rate than those without. They look for such cars first because the perps know that they can at least get something “good”.
Not too mention, the stupidity of many people who also leave their car doors open or leave their keys in the car. that also contributes. These perps are opportunists most of the time. They will pull car handles of hundreds of cars and hope they get lucky with an unlocked door………….
Or they will prey on the vehicles, as mentioned before, where ANYTHING that MAY be of value is seen from the outside.
Moral of story: Leave nothing exposed inside your car…it only tempts criminals that they may have a shot of stealing something good.
5 jj // Jan 5, 2009 at 2:58 pm
One more thing Jack, it has everything to do with valuables. These druggies and mentally ill are looking for electronics, purses, money, change, that they can sell for more drugs/hobbies.
The artwork, toys, books don’t sell for the type of clientele they deal with. Go ask a detective and he’ll tell you. They are told this by many perps they deal with. And as you said yourself, many of them are mentally challenged. They either don’t want to or can’t comprehend that they could still pick up “free street junk”.
That “gym bag on your car seat with dirty clothes” is not perceived liek that by them. They see it as; it being something that may have money, valuables, etc. inside. So if you want them to find out the hard way that it has no value….be my guest. you are tempting them.
BOTTOM LINE:
Leaving nothing visible in your car lowers your chances of your car being broken into. Does not guarantee that your car is safe, but i’ll take my car being less of a target than more of a target. Do that, and don’t expect cops to do everything for you when it comes to safety person and property.
6 Jack // Jan 6, 2009 at 12:06 am
jj, fair enough on all counts. But you know what would help decrease this? Getting rid of the pawn shops that are all within a 4-5 block radius of that part of Boerum Hill.
Seriously, Proline on Atlantic & 4th now does buying in addition to the whole row of pawn places on Flatbush near 3rd. Not to mention the computer place on Flatbush near Pacific.
When it isn’t be cars broken into, in the summer time you see lots of the neighborhood characters suddenly walking with bikes all over the place. They steal, store and then sell them.
I know pawn shops have a use. But so many places for no questions asked cash so close to each other? C’mon.
7 April // Jan 19, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I live in Las Vegas, Nevada and have now had my car broken into twice within the last month. The criminals are quick and smooth. I saw them commit the crime in 1 minute along with another vehicle they broke into at my workplace. As for the cops, they never showed… of course. However they are able to sit on my street corner in pairs and on the freeways in pairs to catch anyone speeding 5-10 mph over the speed limit. They should be driving through parking lots instead. As for the man who thinks nobody should leave their valuables in their car, fuck you. Are seriously going to tell us that we deserved it? The assholes took my gym bag and the 2nd time a bag full of papers, so is that MY fault? Thieves are SCUM and the cops have been no help. Sorry, but that’s the facts.