Crime & Safety

Police Chief: Township Has Seen 'Spike' In Burglaries

From Dec. 18 and Feb. 06, there have been 19 reported cases of attempted or actual burglaries.

During a 1st Ward meeting last week, Haverford Township Police Chief Carmen Pettine said the township has seen a “spike” in burglaries.

“Haverford Township has experienced a recent spike in burglaries,” Pettine told a crowd of 20 people at the Manoa Fire Co. on Wednesday evening, Feb. 8.

Between Dec. 18 and Feb. 06, the police department has received 19 reports of attempted or actual burglaries, but Pettine stressed that in the majority of the cases entry was only gained because the homeowner had unlocked doors and windows.

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(Editor's note: Police Chief Carmen Pettine contacted Patch on Wednesday, Feb. 15, to correct a mistake. It was originally reported that in all of the 19 cases homeowners did not have their doors and windows locked. He said this was not correct and said it was only the majority of the cases, not all.)

“The homeowner has to do a better job of protecting your own property,” he advised, adding homeowners should lock their doors and windows and leave the lights on at night if no one is home.

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He directed residents to the police department’s website that has additional safety tips, such as:

  • Take pictures of jewelry in case it is stolen; it will be easier to identify.
  • Write down serial numbers of TV, computers and other devices for easy identification if they are stolen and recovered.
  • Keep garage doors closed and locked.
  • If going away, ask trusted neighbor to keep an eye on the home and vehicles.

Pettine’s message of keeping doors and windows locked is a similar one that Detective Thomas Long and Sgt. Kevin Redding sent to residents .

Calling them “crimes of opportunity” because the homes were unlocked, Pettine said that most of the burglaries occurred during the day and those who committed the crimes were “drug addicts.”  

First Ward Commissioners Steve D’Emilio, who headed the meeting, said that it was the sign of the times that there is an increase of drug use, not just in Haverford Township but also in surrounding ones such as Radnor.

Pettine also gave a breakdown of the number of burglaries by year:

  • 2008—95
  • 2009—106
  • 2010—64
  • 2011—100
  • 2012—8 (year to date)

For the burglaries that occurred this year, Pettine said some of the cases have been solved and the police are close to making arrests in the remaining cases. He said those who committed those crimes were mostly from the township.

Residents were urged to call 9-1-1 if they see anything suspicious or if their home has beenl broken into.


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