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Bride-To-Be Loses Family Heirlooms As Burglary Spike Plagues Carroll Gardens

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A bride-to-be has become the victim of a burglary spike in Brooklyn.

Heirloom jewelry that she hoped to wear on her wedding day was stolen from her bedroom in broad daylight.

As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, Rachel Tepper didn't expect to spend the week before her wedding trolling Craigslist and eBay, hoping to spot some of her stolen jewelry for sale.

"And that's what I'm thinking about now, instead of thinking about marrying the love of my life," Tepper said.

On Monday, Aug. 24, burglars ransacked Tepper's Carroll Gardens apartment, going through box after box of jewelry that Tepper inherited from her grandmother and others.

"Every piece had a lot of meaning for me. Things that I hoped to wear on my wedding day that I am now unable to," Tepper said.

That included diamond studs and a gold bracelet. Her fiancee's wedding band was also stolen.

In the 76th precinct, dozens of other residents might not share this bride-to-be's exact story, but they do share her anguish at being a burglary victim.

Stats showed burglaries in the 76th are up almost 80 percent, year to date.

One longtimer wondered if burglars were attracted by all the new residents.

"The new wave of young professionals (has moved in) and the burglars are getting smart," Joe Dellacave said.

"Hopefully by the time I get back from my honeymoon, the police will have found something for me," Tepper said.

There's a new lock on her door, and Tepper said she's trying to focus on what she'll gain on her wedding day, not what she lost.

The NYPD said it is taking several steps to combat the burglary spike. Directed patrols are doing concentrated enforcement in residential areas that have seen burglaries.

Crime Prevention officers have stepped up outreach and education with community groups to remind residents to take home security seriously.

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