Bellmorite catches burglary attempt on camera

Thanks to a security system installed six years ago, David Mahler of Bellmore recently captured an attempted burglary at his Judith Drive home on video. At 9 a.m. on Oct. 12, cameras caught a suspect attempting to force open the front door of his house.

Police described the suspect as a black male, about 18 to 22 years old, with short cropped hair, wearing light-colored jeans, a black shirt and carrying a black knapsack on his back.

Mahler’s cameras also caught the suspect in his backyard attempting to enter the home through rear doors, but Mahler’s dog, which was inside the house, helped to thwart the attempted burglary. As the suspect left Mahler’s property, cameras showed him getting into a silver or gray, four-door Nissan Altima.

Mahler said that when he returned home early that afternoon, he found a gate on the side of his home open. He immediately went into his house and checked the security cameras. He discovered that three police cars had been parked outside his house earlier that morning. Mahler said a neighbor had called police after spotting suspicious activity at his house, and officers were posted outside his home, but by then the suspect was gone.

After calling the 7th Precinct, Mahler was told by police to stay at his home, and that officers would be over shortly. Malhler showed police the video footage, and they used it to put together a Crime Stoppers alert. Police are asking anyone who can identify the suspect or who has information about this crime to call 1-800-244-TIPS (8477). All calls will be kept confidential. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest.

Mahler, who works in private home technology, said of his security cameras, “Whenever we’re away, I keep an eye on the house. Clearly they’ve paid off.” He’s even started to install camera systems for his neighbors as well.

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