Nassau County Police Department Third Precinct Commanding officer John Berry addressed the East Williston Village Board last week, discussing the recent burglaries plaguing the village and surrounding communities.
According to village officials, the police have recognized these occurrences to be a pattern and increased patrols.
“The Third Precinct is pulling officers from “quieter” areas to patrol the village,” East Williston Mayor David Tanner said. County detective units have been alerted to the burglaries and will be patrolling as well, and police patrol supervisors are working directly with local patrol cars to emphasize the need for heightened surveillance.”
Berry, who replaced Inspector Sean McCarthy in August and has over 20 years experience in Nassau County, discussed three crime areas within the village—burglaries, larceny from automobiles and telephone scams.
Berry said 20 incidents occurred in 2015 as opposed to 12 last year. His statistics have one felony assault, and six residential burglaries and 12 car break-ins this year.
Berry urged all residents to keep their cars locked at night, and to report any suspicious phone calls involving requests to have money wired to a specific account for a proposed emergency reason.
“This is the hottest time of year for burglaries because it gets dark earlier,” Berry said. “And while you and your family are out at work or with your kids, the burglar does his shopping around the block looking for houses that look like no one is home.”
Berry said the most recent burglary in the village was at the end of October, and said there is a possibility that the burglars have moved onto other communities.
“They see that we have more enforcement out there now, so they go someplace else,” Berry said, who remarked that the burglaries have been scattered throughout the village, and not in one particular quadrant. “We’re always looking for patterns and some common thread with robberies that take place in a particular community.”
A 50-year resident of the village asked about a possible connection with salespeople and the burglaries. Both Tanner and village attorney Jeffrey Blinkoff explained that people can deliver mailings to residents, however if a peddler is trying to sell something, or take donations, they have to to register with East Williston.
Some residents pressed Berry for specific information on recent burglaries, including leads and possible patterns. Berry said forensics has been gathered, however he could not get into details on particular cases.
“If residents have any kind of information from any burglaries that have taken place in the village, please contact myself or the precinct,” he said.
East Williston recently hired a private security company to police areas of the village through January.
