Park Slope Home-Invader Arrested, Reportedly Behind Recent String Of Break-Ins

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The NYPD has arrested a man who was reportedly behind some in a recent string of burglaries in Park Slope, a department spokesman told Patch.

Authorities nabbed 50-year-old Steven Roberts last week in connection with a break-in near Eighth Avenue and Carroll Street, the spokesman said.

The victim told investigators that he and his wife were sleeping when they heard a loud noise in their living room, police said. Once he was discovered, Roberts fled on foot, police said.

He had used "some sort of prying device" to get in the door, the police spokesman said. Roberts, who has a permanent address in Queens, was charged with burglary in connection with the break-in, police said.

The police spokesman told Patch that Roberts is "a career criminal" with "well over 30, maybe 40, maybe even 50" arrests to his name.

While the spokesman said he couldn't provide Patch a list of the arrests or where they occurred, the Daily News, citing a police source, said Roberts was "partially responsible" for a spike in burglaries in the neighborhood.

Roberts "could be charged in up to nine other similar burglaries in the area this year," the Daily News reported.

The News quoted a police source who said: "This guy had been killing us."

According to NYPD statistics, as of May 21, crime overall is up more than 17 percent so far this year compared to the same time last year in the 78th Precinct, which includes Park Slope, Prospect Heights and most of Gowanus.

The number of burglary cases in the precinct during that time period has shot up from 39 last year to 63 this year, a 61.5-percent increase.

Image: Patch file photo