Brooklyn Burglary Crew Inspired by Affleck Movie

There were 62 burglaries in Brooklyn and Queens

Police say a prolific burglary crew in New York City took cues from the bank heist drama "The Town."

Police say the burglars splashed bleach on ATMs and cash drawers to try to destroy DNA evidence.

They also cut power to their target locations and used miners' headlamps to see what they were doing in the dark.

An NYPD spokesman said Tuesday that the suspects told detectives they'd watched the bad guys in the Ben Affleck-directed film do the same thing.

The 2010 movie, which also stars Affleck, portrays the FBI's pursuit of four friends responsible for a string of bank and armored truck holdups.

The real bandits started burglarizing businesses in August 2010, beginning at a discount store in Sunset Park. Most recently, they raided a candy store in Astoria, on Oct. 10. It was the only Queens burglary in the pattern, police said.

The men are suspected in 62 burglaries at delis, discount stores and pizzerias in Brooklyn and Queens. Police say they made off with $217,000.

Four suspects were awaiting arraignment Tuesday. A fifth was already behind bars on an unrelated weapons charge.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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