U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer rarely misses an opportunity to pontificate on an issue of importance to the residents of Long Island. Sometimes his proposed solutions to a problem are well thought out. All too often they’re not.
Case in point, a press conference Schumer held last week in response to a wave of home break-ins in Nassau County committed by crooks posing as National Grid employees.
The burglars targeted the homes of the elderly who often didn’t know they were robbed until the fake utility employees were long gone. The burglaries took place in Herricks, Westbury and Syosset on June 19 and 20.
“It is something we can do something about, and fortunately we can,” Schumer said. “We’re asking how people can recognize National Grid employees so they can tell the difference between a real National Grid employee and an imposter.”
So far, so good.
Then he said National Grid should start giving 24-hour notice in areas where the burglaries took place and then expand the practice into the rest of Nassau County.
That’s where his solution falls short. National Grid already calls its customers in advance to let them know when a worker will be arriving for a routine visit, if for no other reason to make certain that someone will be home.
National Grid and PSEG said they share the senator’s concern. They gave out 800 numbers for customers to call if they have any concern about the person standing at their door. They agreed with Schumer that homeowners should look for the National Grid truck before letting anyone in.
But what does a resident do if a person at their door claiming to work for National Grid says there is a strong smell of gas in the neighborhood? If there is gas in the house, even using a cell phone can be dangerous.
Nothing in Schumer’s proposal addresses this very real possibility.
Refusing or delaying the entry of a real National Grid worker could put lives at risk. At some of the homes this is how the burglars gained access.
Hopefully there is a way to address this problem.
