STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Thieves are stealing construction tools, specifically targeting work vehicles on Staten Island, the NYPD is warning.
“Tools and power tools are being targeted for theft” from commercial vans, said a crime-prevention alert from the 121st Precinct.
Police are seeking tips via social media after a cordless saw, hammer drill, impact driver and air compressor allegedly were stolen in a burglary on Sommer Avenue in Graniteville, according to the 121st Precinct Twitter feed.
A 37-year-old man told officers that an unidentified individual broke the locks of a 2003 Ford and a 2008 Chevrolet located in the vicinity of Sommer Avenue and Speedwell Avenue and removed property between the hours of 10 p.m. on Dec. 20 and 9 a.m. on Dec. 21. The individual fled the location to parts unknown in the incident reported to police on Dec. 21 around 10:40 a.m., according to a spokeswoman for the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.
The individual is described as a male with a dark complexion standing about 6′0″ tall and weighing about 170 pounds. He was seen wearing dark colored clothing.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, or on Twitter @ NYPDTips.
The NYPD recommends that workers always;
- lock vehicles and close all windows;
- activate alarms and other devices such as surveillance cameras intended to deter thefts;
- park vehicles in well-lit areas or garages;
- join NYPD anti-theft programs such as Operation ID;
- Call 911 to report suspicious behavior.