(NECN: Kristen Carosa) – There’s a warning and a reminder to Sutton residents on this Monday night. Police are putting residents on alert after a number of recent break-ins, and authorities are telling people about common sense steps that homeowners can take.
“We are noticing a pattern on Mondays and Thursdays,” says Sutton Patrol Officer Lisa Bonney.
She says police have been responding to several house break-ins in recent weeks.
“A lot of them have doors being kicked in and the thieves are primarily targeting jewelry and other small items that are easily concealable when leaving a residence.”
The break-ins have prompted the department to launch a residential risk assessment program. It's one of the few in the area and it launched Monday.
“Offering tips and techniques that they can use to take away the opportunities that someone might be looking for to remove their property,” says Bonney.
An officer will go out to homes, perform a security check and then make suggestions what would make a property more secure.
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“It's a violation of your comfort zone so people take a great interest in trying to protect what is theirs,” Officer Bonney says.
“Sometimes it's proactive sometimes its reactive but if people call we will go to their home,” says Timothy Labrie with the Northbridge Police Department.
The Northbridge Police Department says they have also seen an uptick in property break-ins over the last two years.
Lt. Timothy Labrie says the town doesn't have a formal program but they will go to residents’ homes if there is a concern. He says he recommends starting simple, keeping all doors locked at all times.
“If someone really wants to get in, they will get in but you can certainly slow the process down.”
Officer Bonney says there are many tips that the department can share when it comes to protecting homes. She says she recommends all residents take advantage of the program.
“There is no end period, so in a month from now, or two months from now, just call us, we will come down and get this taken care of.”
