N E W S
M A R C H 17
109th Precinct eyes
burglaries and phone scams
WWW.QNS.COM | MARCH 2018 | LEHAVRE COURIER 17
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
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