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THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 27, 2002
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Middle Village Cemetery
Break-Ins To Parked Vehicles
by Rob MacKay
Police are investigating an ongoing problem involving theft from parked cars at St. John Cemetery in Middle Village.
Captain Peter Loehle, who commands the 104th Precinct, informed that there have been about a dozen such crimes within the 200-acre graveyard over the past six months.
Sometimes the perpetrators have broken car windows to force their way into the autos, other times they have entered unlocked cars. One mourner’s bag was stolen after she had left it next to a headstone.
The thieves have most frequently taken pocketbooks, informed Chris Tuohy, director of operations for Catholic Cemeteries. And the crimes have occurred at many different spots throughout the well-maintained grounds, which are nestled between Woodhaven Boulevard, Cooper Avenue, 80th Street and Furmanville Avenue.
There are no suspects yet. But Tuohy said the criminals probably use a car—not their feet—to get away after each heist.
To combat the ongoing condition, Captain Loehle has been stationing the 104th’s new Field Command Post at strategic locations around the cemetery’s periphery. Plainclothes police and dummy cars have been employed inside.
St. John has also closed some of its gates to deny fleeing criminals a few forms of egress.
Said Captain Loehle: “We’ll get these guys.”