Police: 82-year-old robbed by 3 men

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Police say they are searching for three men who robbed an 82-year-old man on Friday, just before 1 p.m. They say a man distracted the 82-year-old with conversation at his home, located around Ellison and Balcom avenues. Police say two other people went inside the man's home and stole two safes from his bedroom that had cash, jewelry and personal identification. John Mongelli say he has lived in this neighborhood for 40 years and tells News 12 this is out of the ordinary. “I hate to hear things like that anywhere, for that matter, but, you know, especially where you live. It's a good neighborhood, never usually a problem," said Mongelli. Crime is on the rise in this area. The latest Comp Stat reports that the 45th Precinct has seen a 12.5% increase in robberies this year compared to 2023. Mongelli tells News 12 that this statistic leaves him on edge. “I always check my doors, make sure everything is locked," said Mongelli. Anyone with information on the robbers is urged to contact police. "