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Plainview Teen Encounters Burglar in Eton Place Home

Undetected, she slips into closet, calls police. Search turns up empty.

A young Plainview woman encountered a burglar in her home Wednesday and, undetected on the stairs, slipped into a closet and called police.

The 18-year-old was in her bedroom about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday when she heard noises coming from the first floor of her Eton Place home, said early Thursday.

She started down the stairs and spotted a strange man standing in her home. The burglar apparently didn't see the victim, who fled undetected into a second-floor closet, detectives said. From inside the closet, the woman used a cell phone to contact police.

As she hid, the victim heard the burglar moving through the house. After a while, the intruder fled out the back door of the home in an unknown direction, police said.

Nassau Police descended on the Eton Place area, launching a massive search involving police dogs and at least one helicopter. The victim went through the home with police and discovered jewelry was missing. Numerous people were questioned in the area, eyewitnesses reported.

Police said no one has been arrested in connection with this attack.

The young woman was shaken but otherwise unharmed, police said.

Police say and mostly occur where the victim and the assailant are known to each other. Police have said that most burglars enter homes they believe to be unoccupied. can be a big deterrent to burglaries, police have said.

Second Squad detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

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CFried January 12, 2012 at 01:36 pm
She calls the police while the burglar is still in the home, they have police dogs and a helicopter (which i heard as it was circling pretty much over us), and still they can't catch this guy?
S. Joy January 12, 2012 at 02:04 pm
Probably a neighbor or someone local who blends in.
Gary Talkofsky January 12, 2012 at 03:14 pm
Intersting as we thought the helicopter flying above our house was taking care of the nearby LIE.
Melissa January 12, 2012 at 06:29 pm
Sharon, I don't think so.
Joe Dowd (Editor) January 12, 2012 at 06:43 pm
Folks: We're checking with police on all the latest angles. They are seeking clues and tips. Let us know and I'll pass it along to police or call the TIPS line directly.
Fish Hunter January 12, 2012 at 06:52 pm
why criticize the police that they can't catch the guy? criticize the neighbors who don't pay attention.
shannon littlefield January 12, 2012 at 07:51 pm
the problem in plainview is the extreme drug use of prescription drugs. It changes the brain of a drug addict and they respond to their desperate desire to continue using. these thieves live among us everyday and blend in and you would never know. They would sell their souls for a fix, they have no moral code .
S. Joy January 12, 2012 at 08:01 pm
People are quick to blame outsiders when the truth is the answer is usually closer to home. The increase in robberies, especially those related to homes, in Plainview points not to people who are outside the community but rather to those who know the coming & goings of the people who live here. If one looks at the statistics of crimes like these often times (more often than not) the crimes are perpetrated by people close to the community, not apart from it. Not necessarily always people who live in the same town but typically involved with it somehow. People who blend in.
Gone January 12, 2012 at 08:45 pm
Fish Hunter, I agree. We all need to keep our eyes open. It sounds like these break-ins are quick. So unless the police are right around the corner when the alarm or call comes in. They will never get there in time. I am surprised that nothing has been picked up on surveillance camera's.
TheGreek January 12, 2012 at 09:01 pm
The reason they couldn't catch this guy is that when this happened at 5:45 PM, all the patrol cars were probably busy with fender benders (or similar situations) and couldn't respond immediately. On the radio they call it "stacking calls" which means that there is a waiting list for 911 response. It happens often during rush hour. To reduce response times, we need more officers out there in patrol cars. Having fewer non-essential 911 calls would help too. Drive safer and the cops we do have will be free to do what we need.
Fish Hunter January 12, 2012 at 09:28 pm
maybe TOB public safety can start handling minor traffic accidents. they can bring their multi million dollar command post out ..
Joe Dowd (Editor) January 12, 2012 at 09:36 pm
A reader just helped us post a new photo of the crime scene on Azalea Court. The police responded quickly and in force.
Glenn January 13, 2012 at 12:54 pm
The cops need to be more visible in the area. They need to start to do their jobs. Stop paying this crazy overtime and get more cops on the street. We have such underutilized technology. If not we may have to consider forming groups to patrol our own neighborhoods. Bad economy, desperate people. We need to get a handle on this before it gets out of control.
TheGreek January 13, 2012 at 01:50 pm
If the police had responded quickly, the burglar would have been caught inside the house.
Our men in blue do the best they can, and I am not faulting them. The problem is that there are too few of them on the street to get to this call in time to apprehend the suspect in the act. This call should have been a slam dunk. The police were alerted and the burglar was not aware of that. We need our elected officials to provide more police manpower.
Simba January 13, 2012 at 01:51 pm
Glenn
I agree, it just seems the police are not as progressive in their approach. And it may come down to us to take charge. I'm not vindicating vigilantism but clearly more observation and reporting is required. I hardly ever see a patrol car in the side streets. Do they even run plates ? I know NYPD does, Are more traffic cams being installed or perhaps we need neighbourhood cams ?
S. Joy January 13, 2012 at 02:25 pm
A neighborhood watch may be exactly the type of thing we need. Neighbors watching out for one another would help cut down on these types of crimes.
Me512 January 13, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Today my house alarm went off. I live in Plainview. My alarm company called the police. It took over 15 minutes for them to arrive. They must have had to land the helicopter first.
tj December 10, 2012 at 11:20 am
too bad the girl did not have a shot gun in the closet .....u just do not invade someones private space
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
George June 7, 2013 at 07:50 am
yes, found out the hard way at one of these traps in Hicksville.
Frank Oltep June 7, 2013 at 11:30 am
The definition of STOP in the driving world is " the complete cessation of movement".Read More Sound like many people think STOP signs mean 1. Slow To Observe Police or 2. Slightly Touch On (brake) pedal. Time to go to traffic school online at www.oltep.com. Relearn what you forgot from Driver's Ed. Stay Safe
A June 7, 2013 at 11:52 pm
Stop means stop. Just like stop signs, where it seems like the local definition is to slow down toRead More 30 mph. You STOP, and look. Then go. I have seen kids having a tough time crossing Jamaica Ave because of this twisted definition of STOP. If anything, this is a good way to relearn what should of been taught in drivers ed. When I moved to Plainview, people at a stop sign would signal the driver that got there first to go. Now it's a race to the stop sign and fly by it to avoid having the other guy go first.