Excerpt: The 105th Precinct will be getting an unofficial boost in police presence in the form of mailmen they are training to look for suspicious activity in the wake of a spike in burglaries that has been plaguing the area.

Police Officer Bryan Wimpelberg, the precinct's crime prevention officer, said he just launched the initiative and plans to expand it to cover utility and other workers. Most of the home burglaries are being committed during the day, according to the precinct.

Deputy Inspector Paul Piekarski, the commanding officer of the 105th, said his command has also seen an increase in grand larcenies and robberies.

"People are leaving their wallets, pocketbooks in the vehicles," Piekarski told attendees of the precinct's community council meeting last week. The 105th covers Glen Oaks, Queens Village, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens and Laurelton.

He said some of the crimes are committed by "opportunist burglars" who...