Invading robbers strike Plainview homes
Plainview home of family robbed at gunpoint
BY MICHAEL FRAZIER
STAFF WRITER; Staff writer Bill Mason contributed to this story.
October 18, 2005
A crew of armed serial burglars broke into and terrorized the residents of another Nassau home yesterday, this time in Plainview, despite increased police patrols and publicized warnings on home invasions, Nassau police said.
The home break-in at about 3:10 a.m. on Central Park Road marked the eighth hit this year by a group of at least three men, who are typically armed, gloved and masked, police said.
The Central Park Road invasion may have involved a larger ring, but that's difficult to determine because not all members participate in each heist, police said.
Such home invasions are occurring in Nassau and Suffolk counties and parts of Queens and Brooklyn, police said. More than 45 have taken place this year in Nassau and Suffolk.
"This is a serious crime," said Det. Sgt. John Giambrone of the Robbery Squad at a news conference in Mineola. "People are frightened."
In yesterday's successful home invasion, burglars climbed through an unlocked rear window while a husband and wife and their two daughters, 14 and 11, slept. The family dog's barking prompted the wife to investigate.
A burglar confronted her on the staircase, then the robbers led the family into a bedroom, covered the children's faces with sheets and bound the father's hands, police said. They then ransacked the house before escaping with jewels, cash and computer equipment.
Authorities on Long Island and in New York City have talked with each other about how to counter the rise in home invasions. They said many are connected.
In Suffolk, there have been 17 home invasions this year. Nassau has had at least 29 cases since December. Of those, 16 fall into two distinct patterns with eight apiece.
The Plainview break-in is the latest in a pattern investigators called No. 13. In this set, police arrested Eugene Elmore, 36, of Brooklyn, on July 1. He was charged with first-degree robbery in connection with a June 10 home invasion in New Hyde Park. Investigators believe Elmore was part of the crew responsible for all the home invasions in the No. 13 pattern. Police also have a lead on a getaway car and released a sketch of another suspect in this set.
A second pattern, labeled No. 12 by police, consists of home invasions mostly in the Five Towns area. It has stopped without any arrests, but police said they have leads. In this set, burglars pried open doors or windows. In the No. 13 set, they snuck through open windows, garages and doors. In all the cases, the robbers demanded jewels, cash and computers. No one has been seriously injured in the attacks.
In response to the rise in the break-ins, Nassau police and nearly a dozen village and city departments formed a task force. The task force has increased patrols, shares information and coordinates undercover operations with unmarked cars and plainclothes detectives.
"We're using every available resource to combat this series of home invasions," Nassau Police Commissioner James Lawrence said.
Giambrone said evidence gathered so far shows the burglars in pattern No. 13 are randomly selecting targets. "They are taking a big risk," he said. "They don't know the reward inside."
Anyone with information can call Nassau Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477.
Three distinct patterns
Police believe many of the recent home invasions fall into three distinct groups, two in Nassau and one in Suffolk. Nassau police have labeled theirs Pattern No. 12 and Pattern No. 13.
* Pattern No. 12: Break-ins in this pattern have taken place in North Woodmere, Cedarhurst, Lawrence, Lake Success, Old Westbury and Westbury. Generally, at least two masked men armed with guns pry open a door or window. Once inside, they confront the residents and demand money and jewels. The pattern has been dormant after the last break-in on May 4.
* Pattern No. 13: These break-ins have taken place in Bellmore, New Hyde Park, Massapequa, Plainview, Jericho, Manhasset and Levittown. So far, there have been eight. At least three masked men armed with guns climb through open windows or walk in through open doors or garages. In some cases, the robbers covered the victims' faces with sheets or other bedding. The robbers take cash, jewels and computers. The last break-in was yesterday in Plainview. Police believe one band of burglars are responsible for all the home intrusions in this pattern.
* Suffolk: Three break-ins in Great River, Dix Hills and West Babylon, all near the Southern State Parkway. In these cases, two armed men let themselves in through an open window and stole cash, jewelry and other items.
Posted Tuesday, October 18, 2005
PBA In The News
Editorials
