Burglaries have spiked in Deer Park over the past two weeks, Suffolk County Police said during a recent meeting at the First Precinct in West Babylon.
A dozen burglaries were reported in Deer Park during September, including 10 residential and two commercial. There were also four home burglaries in North Babylon.
In addition, two vehicles were reported stolen in Deer Park.
Police said that the alleged criminals have burglarized homes all over Deer Park and that no streets in particular appear to have been targeted.
Officials also said that jewelry, electronics and cash are the items most frequently taken.
While there has been an increase in burglaries, robberies are significantly down.
Inspector Gerard Gigante said that the number of robberies within the precinct's borders have decreased by nearly 25-percent for the year. Not a single robbery was reported in Deer Park during the month of September, and only one was reported in North Babylon.
While not every case is the same, police said that many of the burglaries are committed by people looking to make quick money to buy drugs, particularly heroin. Officials said that heroin has become more popular than cocaine in the area, and across Long Island. The reason behind its high use may be due to purer forms of the drug that give users the ability to snort it, rather than shoot it with a needle, which has deflated its reputation as a dirty drug, officers said.
To decrease the chance of a home burglary, Suffolk County Police Department recommends that door locks should be the deadbolt type and residents are discouraged to place an extra key outside. Windows should also be closed at night or when no one is home. Sensor lighting that will turn on the lights when someone enters the yard is also helpful. Click here for more tips.
