You Can Join Astoria’s Neighborhood Watch!
Councilmember Peter F. Vallone Jr. is working with police at the 114th Precinct to establish a Neighborhood Watch comprised of area residents that will act as the eyes and ears of the NYPD.
More than 24 residents have so far signed up for the program, which includes training sessions with police at the 114th Precinct. Volunteers who attend the training are schooled in methods of detecting suspicious activity and questionable behavior in people, along with a list of “do’s and don’ts” when spotting and reporting possible criminal activity. Daytime and evening training sessions are available to fit your schedule.
The program is a joint effort by Vallone and police officials at the 114th Precinct who realize the importance of community participation in crime prevention.
Vallone, who heads the City Council Committee on Public Safety, will work with police and the neighborhood watch to appoint Block Captains who will coordinate activities throughout Astoria.
For more information or to sign up for the neighborhood watch, call Vallone’s district office at 718-274-4599.
104th Precinct
Hunt ‘One-Armed Bandit’
Queens detectives are searching for a man with one arm, who was captured last month on surveillance video stealing a package from the front porch of a home in Woodhaven.
Cops said a UPS worker dropped off the package at the home on 94th Street near 86th Avenue on the afternoon of July 23, placing it in what appeared to be a secure spot on the front porch.
A silver minivan pulled up across the street from the home several minutes later, police said. After watching the home for a short while, the suspect exited the minivan, walked over to the home and opened a gate to gain access to the front porch, police said.
The man grabbed the package and fled in the minivan in an unknown direction, police said.
The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male who was missing his right arm, 30 to 35 years old, approximately six-feet tall, with short, dark hair. He was wearing a white and black plaid button-down shirt and dark jeans at the time of the robbery. Police have not disclosed the contents of the package.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS of click on www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
108th Precinct
Wanted For Public Lewdness
Police at the 108th Precinct are seeking help from the public to identify and locate a man who last week allegedly exposed himself to a woman in Woodside.
Cops said the woman was walking at the intersection of 60th Street and 43rd Avenue at about 6:20 p.m. on July 31 when the man turned in her direction and exposed himself.
The quick-thinking woman grabbed her cellphone and was able to get a photo of the suspect before he fled in an unknown direction, police said.
The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 25-31 years old, six-feet tall and 150-200 pounds. He was wearing a dark blue tee-shirt, dark blue shorts with a white stripe on the sides and white sneakers at the time of the incident.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS or click on www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.
109th Precinct
Help Identify Woman’s Body
The body of a young woman was pulled last week from the waters off Little Bay Park, near an FDNY training facility at Fort Totten.
Cops said the body of the unidentified woman, believed to be in her 20s, was discovered at about 10:15 a.m. on August 6, just off the shoreline of Little Bay.
Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy by the city Medical Examiner’s Office to determine if the woman, who was fully clothed, took her own life.
The woman’s car, a red 2012 Toyota Corolla, was found parked haphazardly in a nearby parking lot, police said.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Hunt Flushing Child Molester
Queens detectives are seeking help from the public to identify and locate a suspect wanted for molesting a young Flushing girl on July 31.
Cops said the suspect entered an elevator with the 10-year-old girl at about 7:30 p.m. on July 31, at an apartment building on Colden Street and Franklin Avenue.
When the elevator began to move, the suspect grabbed the girl’s breasts and fondled her, police said. The suspect fled the elevator and left the building unnoticed, police sources said.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic or Asian male, 45-55 years old, five-feet, 4-inches tall, with gray or salt-and-pepper hair. He was wearing tan shorts and a green shirt with blue stripes at the time of the attack.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS or click on www.nypdcrimestoppers.com.