Burglaries Up In 2000

By Andrew Gorosko

The town experienced a sharp increase in the number of burglaries in 2000, compared to 1999, with the incidence of that property crime increasing by more than 53 percent, from 43 burglaries in 1999 to 66 burglaries in 2000.

Acting Police Chief Michael Kehoe said burglary is a highly cyclical crime, with its local incidence varying widely from year to year.

The number of burglaries can increase markedly when a burglary ring with teams of burglars comes into an area and commits many break-ins, he said.

During March 2000, police received reports of 15 local burglaries.

An estimated 90 percent of burglaries occur in people’s homes, and almost all of those residential burglaries occur in the daytime, when people are away from home.

A residential burglary typically involves the loss of more than $1,000 in valuables, according to police. Cash, jewelry, electronics, and assorted small valuables are the items most often stolen in the crimes. Burglars typically are inside homes for only a few minutes, rapidly stealing what they want and leaving quickly, according to the acting chief.

Police note that there are almost no burglars who have been burglars only once. They continue breaking into homes and businesses until they are apprehended, according to police.

Unfortunately, the number of arrests made in burglary cases is low, both nationally and locally.

In 2000, when there were 66 local burglaries reported to police, only two arrests were made. In 1999, when there were 43 reported burglaries, only three arrests were made.

Detective Robert Tvardzik points out that the incidence of burglary in the past was much higher than it has been in the past two years.

 

Burglary List

The following list, in reverse chronological order, includes the number of burglaries reported in a given calendar year, followed by the number of burglary arrests made that year.

In 1998, there were 72 burglaries and 7 arrests; 1997, 81 burglaries, 7 arrests; 1996, 104 burglaries, 15 arrests; 1995, 101 burglaries, 5 arrests; 1994, 83 burglaries, 4 arrests; 1993, 129 burglaries, 7 arrests; and 1992, 167 burglaries and 7 arrests.

Police attribute the general decrease in burglaries during the past decade to a variety of factors.

Det Tvardzik said there are more prisons today holding more prisoners than in the past.

Also, it has become more difficult for burglars to dispose of stolen goods, with the demise of pawnshops, he said.

Also, many local homes and businesses have burglar alarm systems. Police respond to about 2,000 burglar alarms annually. Most often, those alarms are false alarms.

Another common crime which often is associated with burglary, is larceny or theft.

In 2000, town police received reports of 154 larcenies, in which 19 arrests were made. In 1999, police learned of 146 larcenies, in which 14 arrests were made.

In 2000, 13 motor vehicle thefts were reported locally, compared to 18 such thefts in 1999.

In 2000, police issued 1,380 motor vehicle tickets, compared to 1,600 tickets during the previous year. In 2000, police issued 1,160 motor vehicle written warnings, compared to 910 written warnings in 1999.

In 2000, almost half of those tickets and more than one-third of those written warnings were issued for speed violations. One-eighth of the tickets and one-quarter of the warnings were issued for motor vehicle accidents.

The police department conducts a crime prevention program for residents who want to organize a Neighborhood Crime Watch program. Neighbors organize to keep an eye on each other’s properties and report any suspicious activity to police. Contact the police at 426-5841 for details.