Park Slope Crime Spree: Multiple 5th Ave Businesses Robbed in Past Week

Pictured: NYPD Deputy Inspector Frank DiGiacomo listens to concerns from Park Slope residents on March 30. Photo by John V. Santore

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — At least three 5th Avenue businesses in Park Slope were robbed in the last week in a worrying trend, 78th precinct head Frank DiGiacomo said Wednesday.

However, DiGiacomo, who spoke at a Wednesday meeting of the 78th Precinct’s community council, said recently obtained surveillance video is helping police identify and track the individuals believed to be behind the break-ins.

DiGiacomo said he expects a breakthrough in the case in the near future.

Mark Caserta, who heads the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District, said Wednesday that robbers recently targeted Aji Sushi, Postmark Cafe, and Acme Wine and Spirits. DiGiacomo added that one of those locations was robbed twice.

The businesses could not be reached for comment Thursday morning.

Last week's alleged 5th Avenue break-ins took place in the NYPD’s 78th precinct. According to official police statistics, through March 20, major crimes were collectively down nearly 29 percent in the 78th when compared to the same time period last year.

However, robberies have ticked up about 14 percent this year — increasing to 25 reports from 22. And grand larcenies have doubled, from six reports to 12.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, DiGiacomo said he has instructed officers in his precinct to program their department-issued cellphones to immediately receive alerts when crime reports are called in to 911.

Under the usual procedure, when those calls come in, an operator types a message that is sent to an NYPD dispatcher, who then instructs officers to respond, DiGiacomo said.

By bypassing the dispatcher and sending 911 alerts to offers as soon as they're recorded, DiGiacomo said he hopes the precinct can shave several minutes off police response times. The technique has already helped his officers make at least one speedy arrest, he said.