Safety discussed at Williston Park civic meeting

Tom McCarthy
Civic President Bob Mitchell and member Umberto Mignardi and ran the meeting. (Photo by Tom McCarthy)

Pictures and reports of car break-ins were discussed at the Williston Park Civic Association’s “neighborhood roundup” meeting last Thursday.

In the weeks leading up to the meeting, the association posted pictures of unidentified people breaking into cars in Williston Park.

Umberto Mignardi, the communications representative for the association, urged residents to not get too paranoid in the wake of a burglary spree on Memorial Day weekend and car break-ins. “I don’t think we should be alarmed, I think Williston Park is still a great neighborhood,” he said. “But I just don’t want to see people slip.”

Mignardi said that he has been sent “a lot” videos on Facebook of attempted car break-ins. “It’s amazing how many people have videos of people going through their car that they didn’t get in, but they tried,” he said, adding that the break-ins appeared to be “methodical.”

Police statistics on break-ins in Williston Park were not immediately available.

Trustee Michael Uttaro was present at the meeting and told residents to not be afraid to call 911. Uttaro said that due to his new dog, he finds himself on walks late at night, and noted an incident where he called the police about an individual. “If you see something, say something.” Uttaro said that while the saying is a “cliche,” a concerned resident should contact the 3rd Precinct.

“That’s why the police are there,” Uttaro said.

Resident Owen Robertson said that his son’s car was broken into on July 13. His son said he had filed a police report, but that there is no investigation. Mitchell, a retired police officer, said about the former burglary spree and break-ins, “Unfortunately there is no solid information” about who the perpetrators might be. Mignardi said that in a discussion with Mayor Paul Ehrbar, the mayor told him the break-ins are going on throughout Nassau County.

Guest speakers at the meeting were two residents of Williston Park who are in the alarm business. The first speaker was John Healey, president of Newday Security, who promoted his commercial and residential video surveillance installations. The second was Carmine J. Pizzo, president of Intelli-Tec in Syosset, who promoted his security services. The association said it was not advertising these specific businesses, but just providing residents with options.

In June, concerns over the Memorial Day burglary spree in the area were so high that Ehrbar hosted a June 15 meeting in which Nassau County police officers spoke with the community. Mitchell said that the meeting was worthwhile and commended the mayor’s ability to put the people of the village at ease.

Bob Mitchell, president of the association, said that it started in 2009. He said that he and other members go to Williston Park Board of Trustee meetings regularly.

Mitchell announced his retirement at the meeting and said that Mignardi will serve as the association’s interim president and that the group will look for a new president. “It’s time for me to retire. It’s time to find a younger president.”

 

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