Police Issue Alert of Home Breaks in West Roxbury and Roslindale

sent out a Citizen Alert today to inform residents about recent home breaks in West Roxbury and Roslindale.

Police personnel said the majority of incidents reported were during the daytime when individuals were not home, presumably at work. Several others breaks occurred at night while residents were away. 

The following are some of the breaks mentioned in the Citizen Alert:

• January 23, 2012. A breaking and entering attempt on Cornell St. in Roslindale. The victim stated that sometime on Friday, January 20, from 8 a.m. until noon someone tried to break into their home using the front door. The victim believed a crowbar was used to open the door. Officers saw a small quarter-size dent in the wooden door frame and rubber weather stripping along the wooden door frame pulled apart from the frame. 
• January 30, 2012. A breaking and entering report on Temple Street in West Roxbury. The victim said that at about 6:30 a.m. he or she left their home and did not return until 6 pm. After returning the residence was a "mess" and someone broke into the home. A lot of jewelry was taken from the second floor bedroom.
• February 15, 2012. A breaking entering on Salman Street in West Roxbury. The victim said sometime between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. someone entered his or her locked residence through the rear backdoor and removed property. Officer observed the rear door was knocked off its hinges and there was heavy damage to door and frame.
• April 11, 2012. A West Roxbury resident reported a larceny from their home, saying that on April 10, the basement door of his or her home was left unlocked when they left their home on Bellevue Street, and someone entered the basement and removed an old computer.

The Boston Police Department provided the following safety tips:

The Community Service Office would like to remind residents that when they see suspicious activity or a suspicious person to please call 9-1-1 for assistance. 

What is suspicious activity?

• Slow moving vehicles
• Person looking into a home or a car
• Peron carrying property on foot
• Property being removed or placed into a vehicle
• Someone going door to door in a residential neighborhood
• A non-resident going into a backyard

Please remember to look out for your neighbors. By reporting any suspicious activity, you are helping to improve your neighborhood.  Any information helps the officers gather vital information to prevent crime, solve crime, and resolve community concerns.

Don’t assume your neighbors have already reported a crime or police already know about it. Report each and every time it occurs.

Remember to:

• Always lock doors and windows; this includes basement, back, and porch doors.
• Consider installing alarms
• Provide adequate lighting on the interior and exterior of your home; motion censored lights in dark areas such as the side or back of your home helps deter criminals
• Know your neighbors! Look out for one another and start a crime watch group to help reduce crime.

In an emergency, ALWAYS CALL 9-1-1 FIRST.

You can help make your neighborhood safer. If you know anything about a crime that has happened, or a crime that could happen, call CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department is interested only in your information, not your identity. Your tip is 100% anonymous.