WARNING - BAD GUYS in the Neighborhood

Neighbors... if you haven't heard on CBS radio or read in the SI Advance there are some bad people operating in our neighborhood.

You can help by reporting any unusual or suspicious activities on our streets to 911 or the 122 Precinct at 718-667-2241.

Tell your neighbors. We all need to be on the lookout.

Here is the article that appeared in today's Advance:

Heartless thieves steal priceless memories
Burglars have hit New Dorp homes at least 8 times since December, twice making off with wedding bands

Monday, February 23, 2009

By PHIL HELSEL
STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A pair of burglars who have struck homes all over New Dorp aren't just making off with televisions, jewelry and cash -- at least twice, they swiped wedding bands, victims said.

"That was heartbreaking to me," said a Locust Avenue widow whose husband of 42 years died in 2004. "They took things I never expected to lose, things I can't replace".

The burglars have broken into at least eight homes in New Dorp since Dec. 3, and most recently on Feb. 10. Usually they use a garbage pail or some other low-rent tactic to reach a rear window, police said.

Frank Frascati's Otis Avenue home was broken into just a few weeks ago, when what are believed to be the same pair got in through a rear window, and they stole his wedding band from a 20-year marriage.

"I was upset, but what are you gonna do?" he said.

Some of the break-ins happened in the middle of the day while others, like the Feb. 10 burglary that led to a security camera taking the thieves' pictures, occurred at night, police said.

The burglars have struck three homes on Bancroft Avenue; twice on Otis Avenue, and once each on Bryant, Bache and Locust avenues over the last two months, police said. At their last job on Bancroft, a home surveillance camera caught the duo on video.

The string of burglaries around New Dorp is at least the fourth ongoing burglary pattern on Staten Island.

Police are trying to crack groups of related burglaries in the Todt Hill and Emerson Hill area, West Brighton and on the South Shore.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS; they can also log on to the Web site at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or text their tips to 274637 (crimes) then enter TIP577.
Phil Helsel is a news reporter for the Advance. He may be reached at helsel@siadvance.com.

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> Joe Markowski