Greenwich Police are urging residents to lock their doors and set burglar alarms in the wake of several recent break-ins. Last week, Axel Ramirez, 28, of 126 Poningo St. in Port Chester, was charged with second-degree criminal attempt at burglary. He was arrested attempting to force his way into an Old Greenwich residence right after he tried to burglarize a nearby home, police said.
One of the best ways to prevent burglaries, said police department spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray, is to get to know your neighbors. We lead insular lives, but its important to get out and meet your neighbors, he said. No one knows your neighborhood better than you do. If you see something suspicious, call the police. Wed rather go on false alarms than real ones.
During the 2009-2010 fiscal year one hundred burglaries occurred in town. Since January, there have been 10 residential burglaries in Greenwich. According to Gray, the burglaries are not all interrelated.
Two nights in a row later last week, Greenwich police were called to a Byram neighborhood about burglaries. In both cases doors were forced open.
Police suggest investing in solid doors and good quality locks on doors and windows and keeping entrances locked at all times, even while visiting neighbors or working in the yard. Installing light timers, motion detection lights, even security cameras or dummy cameras, can act as deterrents.
A third burglary was reported on Tamarack Place last week while residents were away on an extended leave. On Tuesday night, a caretaker for the property found the back door of the house smashed with a rock and a television missing.
Police said if youre away for an extended period, let neighbors and the police know. Dont announce your absence on your answering machine or broadcast travel plans. Stopping your mail and newspapers can signal that your house is unoccupied. Instead, have a neighbor or caretaker retrieve your mail promptly.
All the recent burglaries are still under investigation. Detective Thomas Powell said there is a definite link between property crimes and narcotics. The use of heroin is up, not only in Greenwich, but all over, and people will do anything to get money to feed a habit, he said. And in some cases, relatives are the perpetrators.
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