North slope bandits

uglyjohnny

Multiple break ins on Sterling Place on New Year's Eve. Three or four buildings kept the police busy in the early evening as people came home and discovered their apartments had been ransacked.

Apparently a couple of kids got access to a roof and used it to cruise up and down fire escapes looking for unlocked windows to empty apartments.

It's been many, many years since I last heard about a burglary on our block/street, but the police said the same thing had happened nearby recently.

Good reminder: Lock your windows!

uglyjohnny

Update: A neighbor says the police caught the guys. One victim went on Craig's list and discovered his wife's camera being offered for sale! He knew that other neighbors had 3 or 4 computers stolen, so he cross referenced the potential seller of the camera and discovered, lo and behold, that he also had computers for sale. Took all the info to the police, who arranged a set up meet with the Craig's list guy and nabbed him. After a little persuasion the craig's list guy was willing to give up the other thieves, and the whole gang was arrested! Funny thing: they recovered a video cam from the guys which included a video the robbers took of themselves IN THE ACT of robbing one of the apartments! In-fricking-credible! Our hero even got his wife's camera back! Happy ending!

MOD

LOL!! Good for your neighbors!

carmen

I've heard of this happening a few times- people finding their own stolen bikes or electronics on craigslist. Whatever happened to good old fashioned pawn shops?!

drunken revival

Whatever happened to good old fashioned pawn shops?!

Um... the internet?

carmen

i would just imagine that reasonably smart thieves wouldnt use cl anymore since it seems to be a pretty common way to get caught. A sketchy pawnshop is probably almost foolproof, esp for electronics

drunken revival

Yeah, I agree.

These thieves aren't exactly cunning. Sounds like a bunch of hood rats trying to get money for Snickers bars and menthols.

carmen

mmmm snickers bars and menthols

armchair_warrior

snickers bars and menthols suck and good for the guy who help catch them.

gretch

I wish every crime story ended up like this one...I will make sure I lock my windows!