Nearly $50K Stolen In String Of Burglaries On Queens Homes : NYPD

ELMHURST, QUEENS -- Cops are searching for two burglars believed to be be responsible for stealing nearly $50,000 worth of jewelry, electronics and cash in a string of heists between Elmhurst and Maspeth.

The two men are suspected of breaking into nine homes less than four miles apart from one another in a two-month crime spree that started in late October, police said. While some residents' property escaped the break-ins unscathed, others reported thousands of dollars lost in cash, jewelry and electronics - including one for nearly $24,000, police said.

Cops said the first of the break-ins, which happened at all hours of the day, was reported on Oct. 23 by a 68-year-old woman living between Calamus Avenue and 7th Street in Elmhurst. The woman called police after coming home at around 6 p.m. to her house in disarray. Officers later determined two men had broken into her home but stole nothing.

But the burglars upped the stakes in their next residential raid Nov. 10, on a Maspeth home between 64th Street and 53rd Drive, where a 59-year-old woman came home to find roughly $23,700 in cash, jewelry and electronics had been stolen from her, police said. Cops later determined the men had broken into her home through a back entrance.

The high-end heists struck again on Nov. 13, when a 50-year-old woman came home early that morning to find nearly $12,000 in jewelry, cash and electronics gone from her home near 69th Street and 53rd Avenue, police said. Officers later learned that two men broke into her home through a window near a fire escape.

Maspeth residents in homes between 52nd Road and 70th Street reported two more similar break-ins through their back doors on Nov. 26 and Nov. 29. The burglars struck the first home in the early afternoon, stealing roughly $2,500 in cash and jewelry from a 29-year-old woman, cops said. The two then stole roughly $500 from a 36-year-old man days later, who arrived to find his home in disarray at around 3:30 a.m.

The pair committed one more high-price heist in Woodside on the morning of Dec. 6, stealing cash and jewelry worth $11,255 from a home between Maurice Avenue and 67th Street after breaking in through the back door, police said.

Since then, cops believe the men have been behind at least three more residential break-ins within the area between Dec. 10 and Dec. 22. Police said the men entered through rear doors of the Maspeth homes each time, though nothing was reported stolen.

The NYPD released video footage of the suspects after they were spotted in a computer repair store attempting to erase information off the stolen electronics, police said. One man was last seen wearing a dark striped jacket and gray pants, while they other wore a dark jacket, cap and blue jeans.

Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Lead photo via Patch.

Lead video via NYPD.