Community Magazine November 2008

Thief! 34 Community magazine STOP As a wave of burglaries plague Brooklyn neighborhoods, SCF offers advice and intervention. H istorical trends show that as the economy declines, crime rises. Sure enough, in the last few months, as turmoil has hit Wall Street, a disturbing crime spree has hit our community, particu- larly in the Midwood section. The Sephardic Community Federation (“SCF”) urges community members to be vigilant and to take proac- tive steps to help improve security in our neighborhoods. Many of the burglaries have occurred on Shabbat and Yom Tov, some in the middle of the night, and others earlier in the evening when families were enjoying dinner on the first floor, while thieves ransacked bedrooms on the upper floors. There were also reported break-ins during the summer months, when homeowners were away. Some houses in the community have been hit multiple times. Stolen items include everything frommotorcycles to barbecue grills, bicycles, air conditioners, and of course jewelry and cash. On a more encouraging note, several burglary attempts were thwart- ed when an alarm system sounded in response to a broken window. “As we continue to work with the NYPD to put an end to this crime spree that has targeted our community, it is especially important that we remain vigilant and aware of our surroundings at all times,” said SCF Executive Vice President David Greenfield. “As soon as you see someone or something suspicious, you should immediately call 911,” Greenfield advised. SCF Trustee Sol Wahba has been working closely with the police department throughout this recent spree. Wahba, Greenfield and a number of local residents have met with the Commanding Officer of the NYPD’s 66 th Precinct and requested increased police patrols in the area. In addition, the community members asked that the police help educate the community about preventative measures that could help protect homes and families. Wahba urges community members never to confront intruders on their own. “It is essential that we partner with the police and not take matters into our own hands,” he said. “Our local law enforcement personnel have urged people not to confront the thieves if you encoun- ter them, but rather to call 911 immediately and notify the police that there is suspicious activity. While we all want to protect our homes and our belongings, the most important thing is to keep ourselves and our families safe.” Greenfield and the SCF have appealed to community members to be alert and to notify the police right away if something is amiss. Greenfield noted that people who know their neighbors and recognize their neighbors’ cars should immediately report any suspicious people or vehicles. “In times like this, it is better to err on the side of caution and call 911 if you believe that a crime is about to be committed,” said Greenfield. “It may be considered a cliché, but under these circum- stances, we are certainly better off safe than sorry.” Wahba recounted an incident in which he noticed several indi- viduals who appeared suspicious. Almost immediately thereafter, he observed a police officer making his way to the scene, having already been alerted by another community member. For the balance of the evening and throughout the night, a police car was positioned on that block to deter any burglary attempts. SCF President Sam Sutton suggested that community members reassess their security systems to ensure it can adequately deter would- be thieves. For example, in light of the numerous break-ins through second floor windows, Sutton asked community members to try to have their second floor windows alarmed, and to activate motion sen- sors before they leave the house. In other communities that have been victimized, some homeowners have employed simple, yet effective, measures to keep their families and property safe. For example, it’s a good idea to keep the car keys next to your bed at night, to use the remote locking feature as a second alarm system. If you hear a noise outside your home or it sounds like someone is trying to enter, just press the remote’s panic button. The car alarm will sound and even if your car is parked inside the garage, the intruder will almost certainly flee the moment he hears an alarm of any sort. The noise will also likely attract your neighbors’ attention. Wahba said that the community members are working to have cameras installed on each block between East 5th Street and East 2nd Street between Avenues I and J. The cameras will digitally record any act of crime or suspicious activity that takes place in their vicinity, helping police to identify and apprehend criminals. Sutton commended the police for their hard work and willingness to help the Sephardic community combat crime. “The officers of the NYPD put their lives on the line each and every day to ensure that our community and our families are kept safe and secure, and they deserve our heartfelt gratitude,” said Sutton. Greenfield urges community members to contact the Sephardic Community Federation with any questions they may have about crime and safety. He also stressed that SCF will continue to act as a liaison between the community and the NYPD in a determined effort to bring an end to the recent wave of crime.