8 The QUEE NS Courier • DECEMBER 3, 2015 for breaking news visit www.qns.com Three men wanted for 39 northeast Queens ATM scams: NYPD lina Suriel asuriel@queenscourier.com @alinangelica Police are looking for three men wanted in connection with 39 grand larcenies stemming Photo via Twitter/@NYPD112Pct Firefighters at the scene of the most recent arson fire at a construction site on 67th Drive in Forest Hills. Barry Grodenchik officially sworn in as District 23 councilman By Alina Suriel asuriel@queenscourier.com @alinangelica Barry Grodenchik was inaugurated on Nov. 29 as the City Council representative of District 23 in a ceremony at Queens Village’s Martin Van Buren High School attended by old friends as well as city and state political heavyweights. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer was among the speakers at the ceremony, along with Congresswoman Grace Meng, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Letitia James, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and Assemblyman David Weprin. Schumer called Grodenchik a “son of Queens” in reference to the councilman’s formative years in the Pomonok Houses and as a Jamaica High School student, and said that Grodenchik has already done a great deal of public service in his adult life. “He’s great at putting together coalitions. He’s great at getting things done,” Schumer said. “So we can say to Barry that he got here the oldfashioned way: he earned it.” Although many had known Grodenchik as a former assemblyman or through his work in the offices of Katz and former Borough President Claire Shulman, some of the speakers were longtime friends proud to see Grodenchik take office in the City Council. Martin Van Buren Principal Sam Sochet spoke as a childhood friend of the new councilman. He said that he and Grodenchik challenged each other intellectually, and their friendly rivalry inspired him to read The New York Times at age 9 after he saw Grodenchik doing the same. “Barry, indirectly, believe it or not, you’re the reason I’m here right now,” Sochet said. Before he performed the oath of office, Queens Supreme Court Justice Lee Mayersohn said that Grodenchik has been one of his dearest friends for more than 40 years. “Although my position as a supreme court justice precludes me from making any political speeches, I can say that Barry is truly one of the warmest and most caring people I have ever known,” Mayersohn said. Following all of the well-wishing remarks and the oath of office, Grodenchik gave his inaugural address, thanking his friends and family for their support throughout his campaign. Grodenchik focused on some of the most pressing issues facing District 23, including finding a suitable use for the campus at the former Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, building a bathroom to accompany the outdoor sport facilities at the 32-acre Padavan campus, and securing funding for the playground at P.S. 133. “We have a great district here, and we have some challenges,” Grodenchik said. “But I knocked on almost 5,000 doors during the summer and the fall, and some of the happiest people in the city of New York are right here in eastern Queens.” THE COURIER/Photo by Alina Suriel Barry Grodenchik has his family by his side as he is sworn in as the 23rd District City Council representative. from an ATM card-reading scam in northeast Queens. The suspects allegedly installed skimmer card-reading devices inside gas station pumps in the 109th and 111th precincts between June 21 and Sept. 23, according to authorities. They were subsequently able to produce fraudulent debit cards allowing them to make withdrawals from victims’ bank accounts. Photos of the suspects were captured when they withdrew cash from the compromised bank accounts. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers’ website or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential. Video released of suspect in series of arson fires around Forest Hills By Robert Pozarycki rpozarycki@queenscourier.com/@robbpoz Detectives may have caught a break in investigating a series of four fires deliberately set at residential construction sites within blocks of each other in Forest Hills this month. Police released on Nov. 27 video footage of the alleged arsonist shortly after he sparked a two-alarm blaze at a 67th Drive location near 110th Street at about 11:12 p.m. on Nov. 25. No serious injuries were reported. According to the NYPD, the perpetrator is believed to have also ignited fires at a 112th Street location near 68th Drive at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 8; a site on 69th Road near the Grand Central Parkway service road at 10:10 p.m. on Nov. 15; and a property on 66th Avenue near 110th Street at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 17. In each instance, police said, the perpetrator entered the vacant locations, ignited combustible chemicals and fled the scene. The NYPD and fire marshals are conducting investigations. Anyone with information regarding the fires or the arsonist’s whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS, visit their website or send a text message to 274637 (CRIMES), then enter TIP577. All calls and messages are kept confidential. Persons who see a fire in progress or someone trespassing onto property should call 911 immediately. Photos courtesy of the NYPD These three men are wanted in connection to 39 grand larcenies connected to a northeast Queens ATM scam.
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