CBS2 Special: Thieves Break Into Cars More Than one hundred Times On Long Island’s East End
FLANDERS, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A brazen band of thieves has been violating into cars in the middle of the night, and residents of the East End of Long Island said it has struck more than one hundred times in latest weeks.
As CBS2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported exclusively Monday, homeowners have taken activity.
“I feel enormously violated that somebody was on my property,” said Angela Hunealt.
Twice in as many weeks, Hunealt said an intruder broke into the truck on her driveway.
“You’re not sleeping,” she said. “You can’t sleep.”
Thieves have been rummaging through cars in driveways from Flanders to Riverside and Hampton Bays. In the puny East End hamlet of Flanders alone, almost every homeowner on block after block reports having fallen victim.
“It’s five to ten a night,” another resident said. “It’s crazy.”
“I know personally of almost one hundred people that have been victimized, and very likely half of which weren’t convenient filing a police report,” said Ron Risher, co-chari of the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Citizens Advisory Committee. “Nothing was taken, but they could tell that their property was rifled through.”
Five cars in Susan Tocci’s extended family have been hit.
“They seem to be coming back over and over again and going into the same cars,” said Tocci, of Flanders.
Tocci is now out at night with neighbors patrolling in pairs. Peeks of at least one brazen thief have turned up on home surveillance systems.
A surveillance pic of a suspect in several car break-ins in Flanders, Long Island. (Credit: CBS2)
“We’re hoping to deter him, but it doesn’t seem to be working,” Tocci said.
Victims told of car windows shattered with bricks and cinder blocks. But in many cases, electronics were left behind and only money was stolen.
“They left my door open and killed my battery, so I couldn’t even go to work,” said break-in victim Frank Fisher.
The rash of break-ins began three months ago and seems to be expanding, police said.
“Do not leave any bags, purses, wallets, keys, liberate switch – don’t leave it in the cup,” said Southampton Town police Lt. Susan Ralph.
Neighbors said police have actually advised that they keep their cars unlocked.
“Law enforcement actually said, empty your car out; leave it unlocked so they don’t harm it,” Risher said.
Police and other officials said neighbors should take the precautions until there is an arrest. Many have taken the advice of civic and elected leaders – against common wisdom – just to leave cars unlocked with nothing of value inwards.
Southampton police have asked the public to report any break-in – even if nothing was taken. So far, they have forty two formal reports, but say they realize the number is much higher.