"We're getting hit pretty good right now," is the way the Sixth Precinct's commanding officer, Inspector George Morrish, put it. He was referring to a rash of burglaries that have been occurring in recent months on the North Shore.

According to Sergeant Robert Anderson of the Sixth Precinct, the two areas that have been principally targeted are the apartments in Great Neck and homes in East Hills. However, Manhasset, lying between the two, has had its share of break-ins. Sgt. Anderson says that there may be two groups, or even two individuals, responsible for most of the incidents. In the apartment break-ins, the burglar either picks the front door lock or climbs in a rear window that has been left unlocked. In the burglaries that have chiefly occurred in East Hills and North Hills, the burglars have gained access by kicking in sliding glass doors in the rear of the home. In the gated communities such as Gracewood or The Hamlet, they first disable the alarm from outside the house.

The burglaries have taken place anytime from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Apparently the perpetrators are not early risers.) Manhasset homes have been victimized by a man in his early 30's, "well-dressed but wearing sneakers," according to Sgt. Anderson. He rings a doorbell and asks to borrow $10 to $15 giving some cover story. He may invite himself in. In one case in Manhasset the homeowner was astute enough to call the police but by the time they arrived the man had disappeared. Of course it was not the $10 he wanted but access to the house.

Time is a major factor in catching these criminals, according to the police. Once they get into a house they can accomplish their aim within 90 seconds to two minutes. Jewelry is their preferred target. Sgt. Anderson says that they usually head immediately for the master bedroom, where most women keep their jewelry, often in plain sight. "We're making it easy for the burglars," the sergeant continued.

The police urge local residents to be alert. If they see someone who looks as if he doesn't belong in the area, don't hesitate to call 911. The burglars often approach a house from the rear and, the police say, the only person who may notice them is a neighbor. "If you see something strange," says Sgt. Anderson, "don't try to solve it. Let us solve it. If it turns out to be a false alarm, that's fine."

The Sixth Precinct has increased enforcement in our area with unmarked cars. They can respond to a call in about two minutes. "If there's a call, we go," concludes Sgt. Anderson.