A bold burglar has been robbing homes on the Lower East Side, even when residents are home. Erica Byfield reports.
Lower East Side residents are spooked after seeing signs plastered throughout the neighborhood warning them of a series of recent burglaries.
Police say apartments in the area have been broken into seven times within the last month, a shocking discovery for those who live nearby.
"I heard about it," said resident Keith Herring. "I didn't think it was like that, strangers coming into your building."
"It's nuts because this is a nice neighborhood," said resident Ruben Reyes.
One woman said she came home on a Saturday to an open bedroom window before she realized her laptop was gone. A man who lives in a building on East 3rd Street said he went to sleep, only to find his laptop, mohair jacket and iPhone gone.
Police say a man entered an apartment inside a building on East 4th Street around 12:30. When one of the residents discovered him in their roommate's bedroom, he claimed to have been doing electical work. Moments later, the unknown man disappeared — along with a television, laptop and Amazon Fire stick.
Frankie Quinones couldn't believe someone was able to get into a building in his neighborhood so easily.
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"I can't believe it, I'm still shocked about it," he said. "How could they get in? Do they have the keys? He's inside of the house, oh man."
Investigators are slapping signs with safety tips aruond the neighborhood to keep neighbors on high alert. The NYPD says they plan to meet with others in the neighborhood this week.
Herring told News 4 his building has had a meeting about the break-in and urged everyone to make changes such as locking the door before leaving and making sure residents know who's entering the building.
"If you don't know, don't let the person in," he said.
