Public Safety
Police

After Burglary Suspect Arrested in Darien Home, Victim Thanks Police Officers in a Letter

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Police officers drew their guns to confront a burglar at the top of a staircase in a Darien home last month, and when he fled elsewhere in the house, according to the police report, they followed, not knowing if he was armed, too. The Dec. 15 incident, previously reported by Darienite.com and others, involved a number of police officers who were later thanked by a resident of the house in a letter to the department that we publish here (see below). Darien Police not only arrested the burglar, who was wearing a watch and gold chain owned by a resident of the house, and the burglar had stolen other items from the home and they found other items in his car, and they’ve been working to connect those items to other thefts in the area, according to the police account. Here’s the letter, which was brought up at a recent meeting of the Police Commission:

Dec.

Public Safety
Police

UPDATE: Police: With Guns Drawn, Cops Confront Leroy Ave Burglar

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Update, Monday, Dec. 21, 8:49 p.m.:

A 35-year-old Whitestone, Queens man found by police in a Leroy Avenue home on Monday, Dec. 14, had a victim’s watch and a gold chain on him when cops arrested him, according to police. Police gave this account, with more details (and with accusations not proven in court) about the matter:

When police entered the home shortly after 11 a.m., a dog was barking downstairs, but they could still hear noises coming from the second floor. That’s when, guns drawn, they confronted the man, Teodoro Alicea, who was at the top of the stairs.

Public Safety
Police

ATM Heist at Abello’s Deli Gets Burglars $1,700 in Cash

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At least two burglars ripped a hole in the roof of Abello’s Deli at 72 Tokeneke Rd. in the wee hours of Monday, June 8, dragged the ATM machine into a walk-in cooler and ripped it open to get $1,700 in cash. Darien police said the burglary, which was completed by 1 a.m., was well-thought out, although images of the burglars were captured by the store’s surveillance video cameras. The wrecked cash machine was worth even more than the money it held — $2,200. According to police:

The burglars used a ladder the store had in the back of the building to get to the roof, then it probably took them about 45 minutes to rip it open.

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Darien Police Headquarters and Sign

Police: Man Poses as Visiting Water Co. Employee, as Accomplice Steals

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As a man posing as a water company employee went through her Ledge Road home with an elderly Ledge Road woman, his accomplice entered the house and stole cash and valuables from an upstairs bedroom, police said. The incident occurred at about 3 p.m. on Thursday, according to Darien police, who gave these further details:

The phony water company employee said a leak had been detected coming from the woman’s home, and she let him in to check out various parts of the house. For much of his visit, the man was on his cell phone — police suspect he was signaling his accomplice. Darien police say this kind of crime is a “distraction burglary” in which one perpetrator keeps the attention of a householder (often an elderly person) as one or more thieves enter a home to steal from it. Aquarion Water Co., which serves Darien customers, recommends, “especially if no appointment has been scheduled,” that residents “refuse entrance into their home without first seeing photo identification.”

Public Safety
Police

Prevent this Crime: Distraction Burglary

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Here’s a long quote from a news release Darien police issued Friday with advice for preventing a “distraction burglary” — when one person distracts a householder while another sneaks in a home to steal from it (after one such incident happened on Thursday):
Distraction burglary is a crime in which elderly persons are often the targets but not always. The perpetrator seeks to draw a resident out of the house or into the basement on a pretext. While the resident is occupied, an accomplice enters the home and steals valuables such as money and jewelry. Thieves may also take papers with the intent of committing identity theft. In a variation, the accomplice enters the dwelling by a second door while the resident is occupied at the other door. 
To prevent distraction burglary, be suspicious of anyone who comes to your door under any of these guises:

Utility worker
Public official
Door-to-door salesperson
Person asking about a lost pet
Lost person asking for directions
Person asking about working on the property
Surveyor

In the case of someone claiming to be on official business, it’s a good idea to ask for identification, but that can be faked.