Police Captain Reports Drug Addiction Driving Recent ‘Uptick’ In Burglaries

Despite an overall drop in crime across the 61st Precinct, the station house’s commanding officer reported there has been a recent ‘uptick’ in burglaries and said drug addiction was behind increase.

Speaking at the community council meeting Wednesday night, Captain Winston Faison explained the precinct had 14 burglaries last week, compared to four the week before.

Faison advised neighbors to make keep their property safe by locking windows and doors in their homes and cars.

“We see a lot of drug addicts looking for opportunity crimes,” he said.

Faison reported that police arrested a man last week wandering through backyards in the neighborhood searching for homes to break into. He also said cops often observe people walking the streets checking cars to see if they are unlocked. Officers watch the suspects and wait for them to open a car door before making an arrest.

“These guys are not brain surgeons. They are not looking to break a window or anything,” he said. “They are looking for an easy way to make money.”

Cops have been cracking down on drug dealers in the neighborhood. On Halloween, police recovered hundreds of packets of heroine and cocaine during a search of an apartment near East 18th Street and Avenue R. Police have also been stepping up patrols at local parks to prevent them from becoming havens for drug addicts and dealers.

Faison also said that although robberies were down compared to the previous year, there had been 21 reported robberies during a recent 28-day period. He said cellphones are a popular target for thieves and urged residents to guard their electronic devices.

“Stealing a cellphone is an easy way for someone to make a week’s worth of money is a couple of seconds,” he said.

Faison encouraged neighbors to always call police to report a crime or suspicious activity. He said the location of 911 calls are recorded on a map at the station house, which allows the precinct to focus efforts on areas where criminal activity is concentrated.