FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release - Sterling Police Department
3/20/09
There have been a recent rash of breaks into motor vehicles in the Town
of Sterling and surrounding communities. The Sterling Police Department is
working with other local departments to locate those responsible for the break
ins.
So far two areas of Sterling have been targeted, The
Belmont, James Road area was hit on the 13th of March. Last night, March 20th
the Birch Rd area was hit. There have been approximately 15 total breaks
reported.
Items taken were GPS units, Ipods, cell phones, lap top
computer, sunglasses and cash. Most of the vehicles were parked in private yards
and were in close proximity to homes and were not locked.
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself
from being a victim of these crimes. First, lock your vehicle and set your car
alarm if you have one. Most of the vehicles that were broken into were not
locked. These unsecured vehicles are easy targets, the thieves don’t want to
make noise or have too work to hard to get their loot.
Park you vehicle in a lighted area on your property and leave an
outside light on. If you have a motion sensor light monitor that.
Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. Items that are easy
to carry and conceal are being targeted. GPS units are a prime target right now.
They are easily transferable from one car to another. Record the serial
number of your valuables; this will help in identifying your property if
located. You could also mark your property with your name or other identifying
mark.
Do not leave your purse or wallet in the car. Not only can
you lose whatever money is there, but also you potentially can become the victim
of identity theft. Additionally, there is the major inconvenience of replacing
your driver’s license and other documents as well as canceling any credit cards
you may have lost.
We believe these breaks are occurring during the late night early
morning time. If you see or hear anything suspicious call the police department.
What to look and listen for:
Strange noises.
Motion sensor light going on for no apparent reason.
Your or a neighbors dog that is barking that usually does not bark.
If you hear a car alarm sounding, don’t ignore it, call the police.
If you observe anything suspicious try to obtain a description of the
people or the cars. A registration plate would be the best source of
information.
Do not attempt to confront anyone or investigate on your
own. Generally these people are looking to feed a drug habit. They are generally
not confrontational unless they feel like they are going to be apprehended and
will resist all attempt to arrests them.
Call the Sterling Police Department to report any suspicious activity or
report any information on this crime at 978-422-7331.
