54°
Det. Lt. Eric Fischer said there is no evidence that the house was targeted because it is on the interactive map published Dec. 24, which shows the names and addresses of all pistol permit holders in Westchester and Rockland counties.
“We’re investigating it as we would any burglary,” he said.
However, Robert Riley, president of the White Plains Police Benevolent Association, is concerned that the map may have incited the incident, which he added is one of eight burglaries or attempted burglaries within the past four days in White Plains. He said some of the burglary victims lived one or two doors from pistol permit holders listed on the map.
“The Journal News printed a virtual treasure map for criminals. It lets the bad guys know who is vulnerable, due to not having a gun permit, and where to go if they wanted a gun,” said Riley, who previously asked the newspaper to remove the names and addresses of law enforcement personnel from the map.
Riley has since ratcheted up his request, asking readers to cancel their subscriptions and advertisers to pull their ads from the newspaper until it removes the map from its website.
The Affiliated Police Association of Westchester County Inc. has said it will hold the newspaper responsible for any crimes against its members stemming from publication of the map. The association is to publicly state its position at a news conference Tuesday at the Westchester County Courthouse, 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Click here to follow Daily Voice White Plains and receive free news updates.
