Sandy survivors victimized again, by looters

Sand and rubble surround homes damaged during Superstorm Sandy Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at Breezy Point in the Queens borough of New York. / AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

NEW YORK In one of the areas hardest hit by superstorm Sandy, residents are now coping with a brand new violation: Looting.

In Breezy Point, Queens, more than 100 homes were destroyed by fire on the night Sandy hit. Many residents who left their homes for Thanksgiving returned to find their houses had been ransacked and robbed, CBS Station WCBS reports.

On Thanksgiving, Robert Bainbridge - who has been filing reports with his insurance company and federal agencies - filed a police report after he discovered someone had broken in and burglarized his house.

"I was a little dumbfounded because I thought I had the house pretty well secured," Bainbridge told WCBS correspondent Drew Levinson.

His wife Dorenda and daughter Katie said the burglars rifled through almost everything in their bedrooms, taking jewelry and money.

"How dare you kick us when we are down? You feel it in your gut, you feel it deep inside you, it's such a wound," Dorenda Bainbridge told Levinson.

Other homes in the community were also hit over the holiday, adding insult to injury.

"It's just a kick in the pants to have this happen on top of everything," Bill Schlageter told Levinson.

The thieves stole items they could easily put in their pockets without raising any suspicions - mostly jewelry, coins and cash.

"Unbelievable, unbelievable. They should rot in hell," one neighbor said when she heard about the break-ins.

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The New York Post reported that at least three homes in Breezy Point were hit on Wednesday or Thursday. The Post reports that there were 14 home break-ins in the Queens neighborhood between Nov. 12 and Nov. 18, while there were none during the same period in 2011.

Bainbridge, who is a graphic artist, drew a picture of gun with a warning that he's armed and put it on his door to ward off any other would-be thieves.

Other neighbors called the situation disheartening, characterizing Breezy Point as a community where everyone knows everyone else, and saying they cannot imagine who would have broken into their homes.

In the immediate wake of the storm, Rockaway residents told WINS reporter Gary Baumgarten that looting and thievery have become serious threats. Residents from Staten Island to the Jersey Shore also saw lootings and, like Bainbridge, some warned that they had guns and would use them if necessary.

In Hillside, N.J., two North Carolina men who came to New Jersey to take part in post-Sandy recovery efforts have been accused of trying to rob a drug store.

David Dockery, 28, and Jerry Lee Williams, 34, were arrested on Thanksgiving night and charged with burglary and criminal mischief, the Star Ledger reported.

[Stevie851]

Criminals...don't they add spice and excitement to our lives? Wouldn't you miss them if they all decided to MAN UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING? I'm such a dreamer.

[Martha12345]

Why wasn't the National Guard protecting the homes from looters ? In the old days, looters were shot.

[MIO42]

Why act Surprised, these Trolls are everywhere ,The Stock Market, the Car Lot, the workplace,a Place of Worship,.........I think you get my point.
It's Human nature or Inhumane if you like to to make $$$$$$$ off of someone else's tragedy
Human Nature never changes and is veeeeeeeeerryy. Predictable !

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

By contrast, Japan had virtually no looting after the earthquake/tsunami last year. Shows which of the two countries is more civilized.....

[rwsmith29456]

Nobody, maybe you are being ironic. I like guns and own a few for plinking and target shooting but I don't follow your logic. How are people that have had to evacuate their homes going to stand guard when they aren't there? It bothers me that if my guns were stolen while I was away from home, that they would end up involved in crime.

[PourpaixPourpaix]

If this is a community where everybody knows each other, how come those who stayed behind on Thanksgiving didn't say anything to the cops as they watched strangers wander about the neighborhood? Oh, yeah, that's right. East coast thing.

[democracy8]

On Thanksgiving, people travel to visit families, so not everyone unknown to you in the neighborhood can be assumed to be a criminal. Those "strangers" may just be the out-of-town family members of your neighbors. I'm sure the police wouldn't appreciate being called for things like that every 5 minutes. "Logic", it must be a East Coast thing...

[memensa]

It is really amazing the depths humans will stoop to. Heaven help these down trodden Americans, they deserve all of our support and prayers.

[memensa]

It is really amazing the depths humans will stoop to. Heaven help these down trodden Americans, they deserve all of our support and prayers.

[Lulu5545]

These are the people who overwhelmingly voted for Obama and who continuously vote for Democrats. Instead of putting their efforts into legitimate work to build themselves up and their families, they simply take from others. But this is just an effect of the redistribution mentality and mantra preached by Obama and supported by Democrats. It's not surprising is it that you reap what you sow and you get what you vote for?

[patric627]

and yet again, the fanatic, right-wing ******** freaks spout meaningless drivel.
your comments are not only worthless, but utterly counterproductive. they have nothing to do with this unfortunate story.
get a life. or go back to your conservative, out-of-touch existence.
as i said above, didn't you freaks get the message from the election: your fox 'news' delusional ranting and beliefs are out. go away, please, so the rest of rational, decent people can go on with a meaningful life without you.

[patric627]

and yet again, the fanatic, right-wing freaks spout meaningless drivel.
your comments are not only worthless, but utterly counterproductive. they have nothing to do with this unfortunate story.
get a life. or go back to your conservative, out-of-touch existence.
as i said above, didn't you freaks get the message from the election: your fox 'news' delusional ranting and beliefs are out. go away, please, so the rest of rational, decent people can go on with a meaningful life without you.