Cambridge Police Investigating Series of Housebreaks Involving Broken Windows

The Cambridge Police would like to notify residents living in the Cambridgeport, West Cambridge and Wellington-Harrington neighborhoods of a series of early morning housebreaks.

Since early November, there have been 16 break-ins (including one attempted) in those locations, primarily between the early morning hours of 4 and 5:30 a.m. Of the 16 housebreaks, 11 involved a suspect or suspects using bricks, rocks and even a pumpkin to gain access to homes. Four break-ins occurred as a result of residents leaving their door(s) unlocked. The most commonly targeted item in these housebreaks have been laptops that were left near exposed windows.

Eight of the 16 incidents have occurred in the past week. A complete listing of the streets and dates is outlined below:

According to Deputy Superintendent of Criminal Investigations Steven DeMarco, “this is an unusual pattern that we are monitoring closely, directing extra attention to these areas and committing resources to as part of an active investigation. We strongly encourage residents to always lock their doors and windows and to conceal valuables from sight, as the primary target of these early morning break-ins have been laptops next to windows. If you notice any unusual activity, please contact the police.”

The Cambridge Police also encourage residents to take the following precautions to protect themselves and their belongings from theft:

• ALWAYS lock your doors and windows at your residence, particularly your basement door(s) and don’t forget about those that can be accessed by a fire escape.
• Install guards on windows that prevent them from being raised more than a few inches.
• NEVER prop open a door or let someone in behind you if you live in an apartment building, particularly if you don’t know them.
• Install motion sensor lights around your home and out of reach.
• If you see something, say something. It is critically important for residents to report any crime or activity that may appear to be suspicious.

Additional tips to help you protect your vehicles and belongings from theft can be found at www.CambridgePolice.org/SafetyTips. For more information about crime in Cambridge, please reference the latest edition of BridgeStat located at www.CambridgePolice.org/BridgeStat.

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The Cambridge Police Department is committed to the enforcement of laws and preservation of order that protect the rights and property of every person within the City of Cambridge. Our mission is to provide the highest quality of police service and to impact crime, and its associated elements, through the utilization of new and proven crime prevention strategies and problem-solving partnerships with our community. For more information, follow @CambridgePolice on Twitter, or access the department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CambridgePolice.