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Updated 05/30/2012 11:52 PM

Facebook Posts Help Police In Brooklyn Gang Takedown

By: NY1 News

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City law enforcement officials announced Wednesday the take down off a violent street gang they say is responsible for a year-long crime spree in Brooklyn.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announced a 102-count indictment against 14 members of the "Brower Boys" street gang.

They say the suspects, some as young as 13 years old, broke into homes in and around Crown Heights by climbing fire escapes and crossing rooftops.

Once inside, they allegedly made off with electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops and even video games.

The items were later sold at pawn shops.

Investigators were able to track them down after they began arguing over profits on Facebook.

"Now there was at least one member among the gang's friends who did not have much stock in Facebook's confidentiality because he posted, 'If they was coming after the Brower Gang, you all just gave yourselves away,'" Kelly said.

Residents who spoke with NY1 were relieved to hear that something was being done about the rash of break-ins.

"People have talked about it, talked about it a lot. Everybody wants the pretty, pretty stuff. The haves and the have-nots," said one Crown Heights resident.

Police say most of the break-ins happened when the residents were not at home.

In one incident, four defendants - two 18 year-olds, a 17-year old and a 13-year old - are accused of tying up a man and woman and threatening to kill them if they tried to call police.

Commissioner Kelly says all four teens sexually assaulted the woman in that robbery.

In another incident, a resident was shot when he struggled with the robber.

The top count, attempted murder, carries a 25-year prison sentence.

Jail time for burglary ranges from five to 25 years.

All of the suspects except for one will be tried as adults.