State Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, said the 111th Precinct is investigating a series of car break-ins after residents living in two apartment buildings along Douglaston Parkway complained that thieves had smashed their windows early Tuesday morning.
At least 12 vehicles had their passenger side windows smashed in and personal items stolen at some point between midnight and 4 a.m., Avella said.
“I am pleased that the 111th Precinct will be launching a full investigation into this matter and hope that the perpetrators of this vandalism will be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Avella said.
The senator said he contacted the precinct’s captain, Jason Huerta, after hearing about the break-ins.
The incidents are part of an ongoing investigation, but the 111th Precinct would not comment further.
The thieves targeted cars parked in the garages of two buildings – 43-60 and 44-30 Douglaston Parkway.
Caroline Lee, who lives in 43-60 Douglaston Parkway, said her passenger side window was smashed and that money was missing.
“It was kind of peculiar,” she said. “They took a $50 bill from my console and a roll of quarters. But they did not take my GPS, which was in the glove compartment, or an expensive pair of sunglasses or binoculars. For the amount of damage they did to the windows, it was odd.”
Lee said the thieves also hit three Infinitis, a BMW and several other cars in the garage of her building.
The building’s residents are calling for the landlord to take precautionary measure to prevent future break-ins.
“This has not happened for a long time,” she said. “It’s disturbing that the building does not have security cameras to prevent this. We’re hoping to convince them to install some.”
Interested in news in the Douglaston and Little Neck area, events, community bulletins, blogs and businesses? Sign up for the free Douglaston-Little Neck Patch daily newsletter.
