Burglaries

Earlier this week a home in the 800 Block of Sassafras St. was burglarized. The person/s broke the rear bathroom window of the house to gain entry. This occurred during broad daylight, apparently between the hours of 2:30pm and 4:45pm.

In speaking with police, the victim of this burglary also learned other homes were burglarized in the area this same day.

As I think back on newspaper bits and conversations with neighbors, someone has been targeting homes and businesses in the center city area quite heavily for awhile now. Bim's Pizza on East Main street was burglarized a few months back (broken front door glass), the barber shop at 6th and Sassafras was burglarized (Broken panel to an old window), numerous homes along Sassafras Street, 10th Street, and I'm sure others I'm not aware of. There have also been several motor vehicle break-ins and thefts from unlocked cars - perhaps related?

Residents should pay close attention to anyone mulling around day or night, especially in common alleys behind homes, and notify police to check suspicious people/vehicles. This would include teenagers, as the home on Sassafras seems to have been hit during the time when kids are walking home from the high school on Wade Blvd. and can be seen all over the area streets. One expects the usual mishief when a group of teens are together, however maybe a few have taken their thrill seeking to a higher level.

Neighbors in the area of 9th and 10th street are going a step further and providing each other with telephone numbers as well as communicating regularly to stay abreast of happenings. The people who broke into homes this week were very lucky because these residents are often very alert, and don't hesitate to challenge suspicious activity. It's only a matter of time until somebody is caught...