Fort Greene, Clinton Hill Burglaries Have Nearly Doubled In 2019

FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN — Local police are warning businesses to be extra careful after an increase in commercial burglaries in the area, which they say are caused by thieves breaking through faulty locks or stores leaving their doors unsecured.

Data released by the NYPD shows that there have been 25 total burglaries so far this year, up from only 13 during that time period in 2018. Those numbers include both residential and commercial burglaries, but do show a spike in commercial burglaries specifically in the last few weeks.

Of the nine commercial burglaries total this year, six have been in the last two weeks, the data shows. 12 total burglaries have happened in the last 28 days, up from just one burglary during that time period last year.

NYPD's 88th Precinct, which oversees both Clinton Hill and Fort Greene, warned businesses about the break-ins on Friday.

"Attention #FortGreene," the post wrote. "Commercial burglaries are on the rise."

The precinct shared that thieves are getting into businesses in one of three ways, either by forcing locked doors open because of inadequate locks, getting in through front doors that are left open, or entering through fire escape windows that are also left unlocked.

Police advised businesses to consider registering for the NYPD's Crime Prevention Division's Operation ID program, which registers the serial number of valuable electronics with the owner's name and contact information and engraving the items with the serial number.

The program makes it easier to trace stolen property to its owner and makes it more difficult for the thief to sell the items, police said.

Police did not identify any specific areas that should be on high alert in the neighborhood, but the map does show that some of the burglaries have happened in clusters on Fort Greene or Clinton Hill's major streets.

On Myrtle Avenue, three businesses between Clinton Avenue and Ryerson Street were robbed so far this year, two in March and one in January. Another residential burglary happened in that stretch of the avenue in January, too, the map shows.

Atlantic Avenue also saw a string of burglaries, two residential in January and two commercial in February and March, all between 6th Avenue and Underhill Avenue.

Over on Fulton Street, there were three burglaries near where it meets Greene Avenue, two commercial from March and one residential from February.