Frederick Ryan, Chief of Police
112 Mystic St.
Arlington, MA 02474
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Arlington Police Ask For Residents Help With Spike in House Breaks
ARLINGTON — Chief Frederick Ryan and the Arlington Police Department are asking residents to be vigilant after officers responded to a recent increase in house breaks and burglaries.
Twenty-nine house breaks or attempted breaks have occurred in Arlington since Aug. 31. This includes a string of five break-ins that occurred on the evening on Friday, Dec. 8 in East Arlington. Suspects have gained access through both locked and unlocked windows and doors. In most cases suspects have been targeting jewelry, electronics and cash.
“Arlington is a safe and vibrant community, but we are not immune to crime, nor are we invisible to those seeking a quick profit by breaking into a home or taking a package from someone’s doorstep.” Chief Ryan said. “That said, we are asking residents to immediately report suspicious activity to the APD.”
To prevent break-ins and burglaries, the Arlington Police Department offers the following tips for residents:
- Always lock doors and windows — across the nation, two-thirds of burglars use entrances other than the front door, including windows, basements, and back doors.
- Keep vehicle doors locked and always roll up windows and close sunroofs.
- Fake them out. Burglars are less likely to break into a home if they think someone is there. Leave your lights on timers, and leave your curtains partially open. Closed blinds and a dark house help a burglar hide while they rummage through your belongings.
- Prepare for vacations or long trips away from home. Don’t leave signs of an empty home while you are on vacation or away from home for an extended period of time. Let your neighbors know you are heading away and ask a friend or relative to house sit. Simple things like having someone pick up your mail and putting a stop on newspaper deliveries can help. Don’t make your home an obvious target.
- Do not hide a spare key. While keeping an extra key under the door mat or in the flower pot may seem like a good idea for the unexpected time you lock yourself out of the house, a spare key is an open invitation for burglars. Alternatively, consider installing a lock box in the back of your house or give an extra key to a trusted neighbor or relative.
- Hide valuables. Keep your valuables out of sight. Don’t leave a garage full of tools and valuable outdoor equipment open for everyone to see. Keep expensive artwork or electronics away from a window view or shaded by a curtain. Put high-priced items like jewelry and electronics in a safe or in a less predictable hiding spot than your bedside drawer.
- If you have an alarm system, set it when you leave, and set it when you go to sleep.
The Arlington Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau is actively investigating each of these incidents. Many of the crimes have been reported to have taken place between dusk and 10 p.m., and at least one suspect spotted by a resident was seen carrying a backpack, which is not uncommon in burglaries.
If you believe your home was broken into, call 911 immediately. Do not go inside.
Anyone with information on these incidents is urged to call the Arlington Police at 781-643-1212. If you witness suspicious activity in your neighborhood please dial 911 immediately.
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