New Wave Of Burglaries Targets Bensonhurst’s Asian Community

ONLY ON BENSONHURST BEAN: Crime is down overall in Bensonhurst, but for the Asian community here burglaries have become a common occurrence. In all, Asian residents were the victims of 19 out of 20 burglaries since last year, according to the 62nd Precinct’s Captain William Taylor. In some cases as much $40,000 was stolen.

Tim Law may have the key to preventing the crimes. A member of Bensonhurst’s Community Board 11, Law is a liaison to and advocate for the Asian community in Bensonhurst. He is helping the police try and prevent the crimes by spreading awareness throughout the Asian community about these burglaries.

“The Asian population puts a lot of cash and jewelry in their homes. They want to see the money every day. It gives them comfort,” Law said, explaining why the burglars have been so fortunate as to find $40,000 lying around someone’s house. “It relates back to their culture. They don’t trust the banking system.”

Law noted that some Asian superstitions can help burglars choose their marks, including the ornaments many different Asian communities used to adorn the fronts of their houses. Things like mirrors hanging over the doors – a Chinese custom to repel evil spirits – were clear signs for burglars.

The problem is exacerbated, Law said, when the victims of these burglaries are hesitant to come forward and report the crimes to the NYPD. That, too, goes back to the Asian – predominantly Chinese – culture in Bensonhurst.

“The Eastern culture dictates that if you are going to the police you must be doing something wrong. So they don’t want to go to the police,” Law said, and then noted that the real amount of burglaries might be much higher than the official numbers.

But with the precinct’s help, Law is hoping to change that perception. Last Sunday he met with the local cops to discuss reaching out to Asian neighbors, something that they have done in the past by handing out fliers with instructions on how to prevent burglaries from continuing. The instructions include things like: Put your money in the bank and don’t leave your doors or windows unlocked.

Last year,  Deputy Inspector James Rooney, the former commanding officer of the 62nd Precinct, announced that there was a recent spate of burglaries:

Rooney explained that at least one outside crew is coming into the community and burglarizing Bensonhurst homes. Suspects are breaking into private houses through open windows, particularly basement windows left unlocked and through fire escapes.

Rooney created a task force in March 2013, which helped nab at least one burglary crew.

But this time, Law believes, the crimes are being committed by people from within the community. He told the Bensonhurst Bean about neighbors who will announce to their friends that they are going to Atlantic City for the weekend or Manhattan’s Chinatown for some old fashioned gambling only to come back afterwards to a burglarized home.

Most of the burglaries contributing to the spike and targeting Asian neighbors have occurred near Bay Parkway, especially along 86th Street and Bay 42nd Street.

Taylor refused to comment on these issues but he confirmed that his cops were working with Law and the Asian community to prevent these crimes.