Two Munsey Park residences were broken into last week, when one or more burglars forced their way through each house’s front door and stole valuables, including jewelry, Third Precinct officials said.
Both of the incidents took place on Waldo Lane, with one happening last Wednesday and another happening on an unknown date between Nov. 18 and 26.
“These recent break-ins are certainly troubling and I can promise the board [of trustees] will make every effort to implement measures to end this type of crime,” Sean Haggerty, the mayor of Munsey Park, said in an e-mail to residents.
“We can call police over and over and over but it’s very hard for them to be everywhere at all times. We need to take some responsibility for this into our own hands.”
The home burglaries are the second and third to happen in Munsey Park this fall, since a first took place on Oct. 25. Investigations are ongoing.
One of the incidents took place last Wednesday at approximately 7 p.m., police officials said. They could not disclose any further information on the incident.
The precise date of the other recent incident is unknown because the homeowners were on vacation and the crime was not discovered until they returned at approximately 7 p.m. last Saturday, police officials said. Assorted valuables, including jewelry, were missing from their home.
Residents were not home at the time of either incident but evidence suggests that both involved forced entry through the front door, police said.
“The Nassau County Police Department has been sending extra patrols throughout the village but unfortunately has been unable to prevent recent break-ins,” Haggerty said.
“As a community our greatest strength against crime is our residents,” he added. “Whether walking a pet, jogging, or out for a stroll, we need to be more aware of our surroundings and identify when something looks out of place or suspicious.”
Along with advocating increased vigilance on the part of residents, Haggerty said the village will take a number of steps in the coming weeks, including a meeting between village officials and the Nassau County Police Department, a possible reintroduction of the village’s community watch program, and an investigation into anti-crime technology.
On the latter proposal, Haggerty said that the village will invite manufacturers of license plate readers to make presentations to the Board of Trustees on Dec. 14. When placed at community entrances and exits, license plate readers can track the cars in the village. Haggerty said the village will look into the costs and benefits of implementing such technology, which is currently in place in Freeport and is being considered by East Hills.
“It’s disheartening that these burglaries are happening,” he said.
“We can’t have it; I can’t have it.”
