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Spate of Break-ins Unnerves Residents; Police Have Leads

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A string of house and motor vehicle burglaries has hit Greenwich this month, alarming residents in the mid- and back-country sections of town.

Most recently, on the night of Nov. 14, a Greenwich family came home to Pheasant Lane to find that their home had been forcibly entered.

The homeowners contacted the police, and upon the swift arrival of patrol units, it became evident that the suspect or suspects had most likely been interrupted in the act and possibly were still in the area.

Additional units were detailed, flooding the neighborhood with patrol personnel both on foot and in vehicles. Four K9 officers from surrounding jurisdictions, including the New Canaan Police Department, the MTA Police, the Connecticut State Police and Westchester County police joined the search, as did a helicopter unit from Westchester County.

During a house-to-house search, GPD officers discovered that a second home had been burglarized on Rockwood Lane Spur, the property boundary of which backs up to the first reported burglary on Pheasant Lane.

The following morning, a separate resident of Rockwood Lane reported that a 2007 Denali SUV, which had been left unlocked with the keys inside, was stolen from the resident’s driveway overnight.

This theft occurred a short distance from the two burglarized homes. Once Denali had been reported stolen, it was quickly found abandoned on Long Island by OnStar, the security and navigation systems company. The SUV was then recovered by a local New York police department.

The suspect or suspects have thus far eluded capture, according to GPD, but Greenwich detectives working the investigations have reportedly developed several solid leads. Additional patrol officers remain in the area and watchful.

The recent mid- and back-country burglaries has shaken some local community members, but they also serves as a reminder to take preventive steps in order to avoid burglaries and thefts.

It shows us how much we can and need to depend on each other, as well as our wonderful police department, said Bea Crumbine, Greenwich’s ambassador-at-large. We’re hoping that we will find more things that we can do as a neighborhood to take care of ourselves, our families and each other.

During the prior weekend, a second-story break-in was reported on Roberta Lane, off North Street, and a burglary was reported on Saw Mill Lane, which runs parallel to North Street between Doubling and Dingletown roads.

According to Lt. Kraig Gray, GPD’s public information officer, force was used in both instances. A rear window was broken at the Saw Mill Lane residence, where jewelry was reported stolen. Despite both houses being equipped with alarm systems, only one house had the system enabled; the system at the other house did not activate.

Working alarms, knowing neighbors, and making the house look livedin are all techniques of decreasing the chance of burglaries, Gray said. “As we approach Thanksgiving, people are gone, he added, and people will take advantage of the season “especially when people know who is traveling.

The Greenwich Police Department urges residents to contact the tip line if they see anything suspicious in the area: tips@greenwichct.org, (203)-622-3333 or 1-(800)-372-1176.

 

Steps to Discourage Burglaries and Break-ins

Install working alarm systems

Make your home look occupied

Remove ladders from visible sight, or store inside

Lock your car and home doors without leaving a spare key under the mat or in the vehicle

Cut back tree limbs or branches that hang over your roof

Get to know your neighbors

Prepare before vacation. Alert neighbors of your trip and dont leave signs of an empty house.

 

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