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Arverne By The Sea Residents Concerned Over Crime 



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Vandalism, car break-ins, and theft. This has become the norm in Arverne By The Sea over the last couple months with multiple incidents making residents question the area’s safety. The concerns have led some at “The Dunes” section of ABTS looking to hire a private security firm. 

Damage to vehicle at ABTS/From Facebook

“Over the course of two months, acts of blatant, senseless vandalism [have] increased dramatically,” Qin Chen, the president of The Dunes HOA at ABTS, told The Wave. “We had numerous reports that a group of young teens would go through the community yelling, and destroying property. We have over a dozen homeowners who’ve reported cases of vandalism and property damage, which includes rocks being thrown through windows, car windows being stepped on, and random acts of destruction.”

In addition, some residents of ABTS have reported their packages missing, suspecting they are being stolen off their porches. 

To address these security concerns, the Board met with Captain Chris Dipreta, Lt. Ramos Polanco, and Officer Victor Boamah of the 100th Precinct on July 21, according to The Dunes Newsletter. 

As a result of the meeting, the precinct “agreed to provide The Dunes with ‘directed’ patrols throughout the week” in hopes of discouraging crime in the area. The officers also urged ABTS residents to “report every incident by either calling 911 or ‘texting’ 911 instead of calling the precinct directly” and purchasing their own security cameras in the hopes of the video footage serving the precinct in future investigations. 

Chen and other members of the HOA are looking into finding private security as well. 

A window at The Dunes that was broken/Facebook

“We’ve also researched pricing to possibly retain a private security company,” Chen added.

A week later, the Board met with Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato on July 28 to request pole cameras throughout the community, as well as the installation of an NYPD Argus camera on Beach 67th Street. Pheffer Amato agreed to inquire with NYPD Sector A and “research possible grants” to support ABTS security efforts, according to The Dunes Newsletter.

As of Aug. 5, the Board is currently scheduling a meeting with NYC Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers in hopes that she can further amplify their concerns and bring about solutions.

Despite this progress, however, some residents believe there is more to be done to ensure the community’s safety.

“The Dunes” at Arverne by the Sea

In a July 30 Facebook post, ABTS resident Lana Phillips proposed creating a database of some sort to document incidents and categorize them accordingly. Phillips also proposed creating a WhatsApp group for residents to communicate, as well as implementing a patrol schedule in which ABTS residents would self-patrol the community “until the reports/data shows that the crime spree has subsided and we have a permanent solution in place.”

“We must protect our families and property – we cannot afford for someone to get seriously injured before we act!” Phillips wrote in the post. “This is not the ABTS that I brag about and call my little piece of paradise.”

 

One response to “Arverne By The Sea Residents Concerned Over Crime ”

  1. Eaglo@aol.com says:

    The solution is simple. Vote. Vote out the Democrats that gave us bail reform. Vote out the party of chaos that depends on malcontent and riots to usher in their socialism. When you start locking up offenders again, the crime will stop. This is your property, your community. Take it back from a government that opposes your interests.

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