Merrick community praises police for providing relief from teens accused of damaging property
The Nassau County Police Department told News 12, "Sometimes some friendly reminders with regard to what is a crime can be an eye opener. Sometimes they just don't realize the seriousness of the situation."
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Merrick business owners and residents finally have found some relief they say they were terrorized by a group of teenagers.
For the past few months, dozens of teenagers were reportedly loitering, littering and even damaging property.
Luke Gallo, of Island Empanada, says for the past two weeks that has not been the case.
The change is thanks to an increase in police presence along with direct contact with the teens by problem-oriented officers.
"Since they're talking to them on foot and stuff, it's a life lesson that they're not getting told from someone else," Gallo says. "And if it's a police officer that's talking to them, it might scare them a little bit."
The Nassau County Police Department told News 12, "Sometimes some friendly reminders with regard to what is a crime can be an eye opener. Sometimes they just don't realize the seriousness of the situation."
Police say they are going to keep patrols in Merrick with the end of the school year coming.
Business owners say they are happy that the police will still be out because they are still concerned about what will happen when the teens are on vacation.
"To a degree, it's a concern for me that the kids are going to be here," Gallo says. "I don't know how bad it's going to get."
