Ford Econoline Vans Being Targeted By Auto Thieves

P.O. Luis Santiago (third from right) was the 108th Precinct Community Council’s Cop of the Month for February, for his work in arresting the man charged with fatally striking a Chinese food deliveryman with his car. He is joined in the photo (left to right) by Lt. Mark Wachter of the precinct’s Conditions team; Council President Diane Ballek; and Deputy Inspector Thomas Kavanagh, the precinct’s commander. Auto thieves are targeting vans in an ongoing pattern, the 108th Precinct’s commanding officer told residents attending the precinct’s Community Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 23 at Sunnyside Community Services.

The command is “doing pretty good,” Deputy Inspector Thomas Kavanagh told the crowd.

One homicide was reported, however, Kavanaugh described it as “not a typical murder.” A woman’s body was found left underneath the Queensboro Bridge in 2009, wrapped in a blanket, under unsure circumstances. It was recently classified a homicide.

Kavanagh (left) and Ballek presented Steamfitters Local 638 with an award for their help with the council’s annual holiday party. Accepting the award on behalf of the union was Ballek’s, son Allen. (photos: Sam Goldman) “We don’t think it happened in the 108,” he said, theorizing that the crime took place somewhere else.

In addition, rapes, robberies, burglaries and grand larcenies fell for the month, and felony assaults were even. Auto thefts, however, rose significantly, from six to 25.

Four of these stolen cars resulted from residents leaving their keys in the car’s ignition when running out of the car, according to Kavanagh. “It’s a problem; I don’t know how to deter it,” said Lt. Mark Wachter, who heads the precinct’s Conditions Team.

Kavanagh added that Ford Econolines are being targeted within the precinct and throughout the borough. The van has gone virtually unchanged since 1992, Kavanagh noted, making them valuable for parts.

Seven Econolines have been stolen in the 108th Precinct as part of a pattern; the neighboring 114th and 115th Precincts have also reported stolen Econolines.

P.O. Maro Youssef would also report that the 108th Precinct has made 18 arrests for graffiti violations so far in 2010.

Kavanagh noted a weird arrest where a man was found driving around the Hunters Point factory of the Plaxall Corporation with a laptop looking to steal Wi-Fi Internet Access. Plaxall, having spotted the intruder, turned their Wi-Fi off, and the man, thinking he needed to get closer to gain a connection, got out of the car and attempted to gain access to the building.

He was arrested for criminal trespassing.

In response to residents’ questions, Kavanagh stated that he will investigate the area near Queens Boulevard and 43rd Street, home to several bars that have “always been a real big nuisance.”

Cop Of The Month

P.O. Luis Santiago was honored as the 108th Precinct’s Cop of The Month for his work in finding the man responsible for killing a Chinese food deliveryman in Long Island City with his car.

According to Lieutenant Wachter, the crime occurred outside a hotel at 39th Street and the Long Island Expressway on Feb. 12. The deliveryman was hit by a car while on a scooter. The courier was killed; the scooter was dragged over 300 feet.

(The crime was featured on the Feb. 18 issue of the Times Newsweekly.)

Responding to the scene, Santiago and his partner was able to get partial license plate information. Using the partial plate info and witness accounts, the precinct was able to run through data and come up with a tentative plate number.

Canvassing the area and interviewing residents, they found a vehicle that matched the plate and found it to have damage from the incident. The driver was arrested and subsequently found to be intoxicated; he has since been charged with vehicular homicide.

“Drunk driving does kill,” Wachter reminded the crowd.

For his efforts, Santiago was given a Cop of the Month plaque, awarded by the Times Newsweekly.

Awards

Diane Ballek, who heads the 108th Precinct Community Council, presented Steamfitters Local 638 with an award certificate for their help in organizing the council’s annual holiday party.

Accepting the award on behalf of the union was Ballek’s son, Allen Ballek.

The 108th Precinct Community Council meets on the last Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Sunnyside Community Services, located at 41- 31 39th St.