UES Burglar Uses Fire Escapes For Break-Ins, Police Say

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A burglar is breaking into Upper East Side homes by using fire escapes to enter apartments through unlocked windows, police said.

The NYPD's 19th Precinct, which patrols the entire Upper East Side, warned residents this week to keep their windows and roof doors locked following the recent spree of break ins. The burglaries are concentrated in the East 80s and 90s between Lexington and First avenues, police said.

Three of the break-ins occurred in the span of two blocks: East 83rd Street between First and Third avenues.

Police believe that the burglar is gaining access to buildings either by climbing up to fire escapes from the street or accessing them by rooftop. Once on the fire escape, the crook tests windows to see if they are unlocked, police said.

The five burglaries occurred between Nov. 10 and Monday, Dec. 2. The first break-in occurred early in the morning and proved unsuccessful when building residents notices the burglar, an NYPD spokeswoman said. The next four burglaries occurred during work hours when residents were not home, police said.

In each of the four successful burglaries the robber has stolen jewelry and electronics from victims' homes, police said.