C RY D E R
P O I N T
MARCH 15
109th Precinct eyes burglaries
and phone scams
WWW.QNS.COM | MARCH 2018 | CRYDER POINT COURIER 15
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
smonteverdi@qns.com / @smont76
At a recent community meeting,
Flushing-based officers shared
information about a variety of
local crime trends and prevention tips.
Inspector Judith Harrison warned
attendees at the 109th Precinct
Community Council meeting on Feb. 14
about a rise in burglaries observed within
the command in recent weeks, particularly
concentrated in the Whitestone area.
According to crime statistics, burglaries
have increased by 40 percent in the last 28
days, year-over-year.
The commanding officer encouraged
residents to always secure their doors,
windows and locks. Alarm systems should
also always be activated.
“If you have alarm systems and you
have an alarm system that can angle out
into the street, that would be helpful for
us to determine their method of arrival,”
Harrison said. “For example: did they pull
up in a vehicle or did they walk up to the
premises?”
Harrison also warned residents not to
leave their cars running unattended. This
pattern has contributed to a rise in reported
car thefts in the area.
“People are leaving their keys in their
vehicles,” Harrison said. “The weather is
going to warm up, but until it does, people
who want to warm up their vehicle … I’m
telling you right now, it’s a crime of opportunity
and there are people out there who
are opportunists and are taking advantage
of what you’re doing.”
She also warned workers not to leave
their vehicles running unattended while
making a delivery — another observed
trend.
“All it takes is a quick minute, a quick
second,” she noted.
Police Officer Mark Burger also took to
the podium to speak about a spate of scam
phone calls within the command.
In recent weeks, residents mainly in
the Flushing area have reported receiving
phone calls from individuals claiming to
be from the Chinese Embassy. The caller
tells the resident that their name has been
linked to certain crimes and instructs him
or her to wire a sum of money to a bank
in Hong Kong in order to terminate the
investigation. In some cases, “Chinese
Embassy” is even programmed to show
up on the recipient’s caller ID, the officer
noted.
Burger urged locals who receive the
call to hang up the phone immediately.
Residents unsure of the validity of the
call should contact the precinct’s Crime
Prevention Unit at 718-321-2343 or the
Office of the Chinese General Consulate
at 212-244-9392.
Attendees with family, friends or neighbors
who speak any Chinese-language
varieties were encouraged to spread the
word.
“Unfortunately, some people get nervous,”
Harrison added. “Slow the pace of
the conversation. Always stop and verify
before you comply.”
Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/QNS
Inspector Judith Harrison addresses the crowd on Feb. 14
