ICYMI: Burglars Target Forest Hills Homes In String Of Break-Ins, Police Say

FOREST HILLS -- The NYPD is investigating a string of burglaries in Forest Hills homes, at least two of which happened while unsuspecting residents were inside. The neighborhood's seventh break-in in 28 days was reported Sunday.

In all the burglaries, the thieves got away with expensive clothing, electronics and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry, said Deputy Inspector Robert Ramos at a community council meeting in the neighborhood Wednesday.

“It was mostly jewelry,” Ramos said. “They took a substantial amount of jewelry.”

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One resident alone had $50,000 worth of jewelry stolen, including a $20,000 Rolex watch, Ramos said.

Police said it is unlikely that just one person is behind all the burglaries but suspect at least two – the ones in which residents were at home – are connected. Those burglaries differed from the others, which took place earlier in the day when the houses were empty.

"Residential burglaries usually happen in late morning when the homeowner is not home," Ramos said.

Police issued a "Wanted" flyer for a man they suspect is connected with the two burglaries, but his face was covered in the image caught on video surveillance, Ramos said.

In the meantime, Ramos urged Forest Hills residents to invest in a video surveillance system, which he said is both a deterrent for thieves and a valuable tool for investigators to track them.

"A lot of people who walk down the street looking for places to break into will see a house with a camera and keep walking," he said.

Lead photo via Patch.