Great Neck, NY: It was a Saturday afternoon. Children played in their large backyards on their hand crafted swing sets. Sixteen Handles, one of the six frozen yogurt shops in the town was filled with residents. Teenagers rolled around in their new BMWs with their sun roofs down. A tone of invincibility graced the town.
However, a year ago, many residential burglaries occurred in this once quiet town. According to Nassau County’s 3rd Precinct Crime Reports, the Great Neck area experienced an average of eight home burglaries in 2012 per week. In 2013, there was a 17% increase in home burglaries.
Why is this such interesting news? According to neighborhoodscout.com, a website that exhibits crime statistics, Great Neck’s crime index was 82 in 2012, meaning it was considered safer than 82% of cities in the United States. A town that was once considered the safest place to live had become a prime target for home burglaries
The Gikzang family, whose home is in the Village of Great Neck, was one of the families that had fallen victim of these crimes. The family of five resides in a spacious, modern, two- floor home, with an unfinished basement. On the night of October 30th, 2012, their world turned upside down when their home was burglarized.
“It all happened so fast. I woke up in the middle of the night, and I knew something wasn’t right. I knew someone was in the house. By the time I got out of bed, whoever it was, was gone,” said Dalia Gizkang, the matriarch of the household. “They broke a window on the first floor. They took a small sofa. I believe they also tried to kidnap my daughter Hailey.”
Hailey Gikzang, 21, recalled the night, as though it were yesterday. “I woke up and saw someone standing in the doorway of my room, just staring. At first, I thought it was my dad, but then realized it wasn’t. I knew I had to stay calm, and act like I was not aware of his presence,” she said.
“He eventually left my doorway, and just ran down the stairs. It was probably one of the scariest things I have encountered, ever.”
Hailey Gikzang shook her head, clearly moved by what had taken place. She considered Great Neck to be one of the safest places to live, but the break-in has left her shaken.
According to the According to the 3rd Precinct’s annual reports, residential burglaries rose by 42% between 2012 and 2013. In 2012 that were a reported 59 home burglaries, while 2013 had a reported 59 burglaries. These statistics are staggering for a town that was once silent. This percent increase is greater than the increases in first degree rape, stolen vehicles, and grand larceny.
The morale of this town has been turned upside down. According to Oscar Costas, an employee at the town’s “epicenter”, Tasti-D-Lite, “Nobody feels safe anymore. Women come in here with anxiety, worried that it will be their home next that will be robbed.
Costas sympathizes with residents, and believes that although many who live in other parts of New York label residents of this town as “spoiled” and “self-important,”- they are educated and have been able to make their own money because of this education.
People, like the Gikzang’s have taken measures after they’ve been robbed to prevent a double-take.
Hailey, along with her brother’s Andrew and Benjamin, have started taking self-defense classes. They have learned simple techniques to use against a potential intruder.
“It’s similar to karate, but more intense”, said Benjamin, 20.
The family has also put stickers on their windows, and signs on their front yard with names of their alarm company, hoping to make intruders think twice before attempting to break in.
“We need to be prepared, because another burglar can strike at any given moment, even during the day”, said Dalia Gikzang, with a look of angst in her eyes.
“In the end, I love this town; this is my town, my home. Burglars better watch out because everyone is upping their in home security,” said Hailey.