Bushwick Burglaries Spike In January Due To Warmer Weather: NYPD

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — January is off to a rough start for home burglaries in Bushwick, NYPD Inspector Maximo A. Tolentino told residents at a community meeting Wednesday night. During the week of January 8-15, Bushwick saw 12 home burglaries, Tolentino said. He compared that with just one burglary in the same week last year.

"Our biggest concern now is burglaries because the numbers are so high, and they haven't slowed down, they're speeding up," he said.

The culprit? Weather, according to Tolentino. "Last year it was very cold around this time, this year not so much," the NYPD inspector said.

The NYPD believes it is a handful of the same people performing a rash of home burglaries, Tolentino said. The NYPD is working with the Brooklyn District Attorney's office to try to "hold them in a little longer" when they've been arrested, the inspector added.

Tolentino recommended to Bushwick residents never to leave their windows open, even if they live on a higher floor of a building. "These guys will climb up your fire escapes, climb through a window and go up on the roof and escape," he said.

Tolentino said a good way to ensure your home is safe from burglaries is to request a site survey from your local precinct. They'll send an officer out to inspect your home and give recommendations on how to further protect your belongings from theft.

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