Avon Police Issue New Warnings About House Burglaries

AVON, CT — Avon police continue to be concerned about a slew of residential home burglaries in town in recent weeks, issuing further warnings about the situation Friday afternoon.

The Avon Police Department said all of the incidents are being investigated by the detective division.

Police said there has been a total of eight burglaries that occurred between Jan. 30 and Feb. 13.

"Each occurrence took place during the early evening hours," wrote the APD.

Police said, in general, the suspects travel to and from the area in rental vehicles (like newer cars with out-of-state license plates) and gain entrance through the rear of the home via an unlocked door or by breaking the glass slider.

"The items that are being stolen have varied, but all items have a high worth," wrote the department. "The burglary crews have been linked to other residential burglaries in New York, New Jersey, and other towns in Connecticut."

There have been no reports of confrontations between homeowners and suspects, according to police.

In one case, the suspects ran from the home when the audible alarm went off, they said.

"We believe that the suspects aim to identify homes that are unoccupied. Based on information provided by other police departments, we understand that the suspects are typically not armed with weapons because the suspects understand that carrying a weapon while committing these acts will upgrade the criminal charges brought against them if caught, with the sentence typically including automatic jail time or a longer sentence," police wrote.

Still, the department urged residents to remain vigilant and cautious should they come into contact with a burglar.

Avon police issued the following tips:

• Continue to be vigilant for yourself and neighborhood.

• Use automatic lights when you are not home.

• Let neighbors know if you are out of town and whether or not anyone will be at the house while you are away.

• Do not allow mail and newspapers to pile up while you are away.

• Be careful on social media.

As an example, police said if you are away on vacation, refrain from posting photos of yourself on your trip until you return.

The remined folks homeowner information (i.e., assessment records) is publicly available online.

"While these particular suspects are not using social media to target homes, this has been a method used in the past in town and the surrounding area," wrote the APD.

Those with questions or concerns or you would like to schedule an informal community meeting in their neighborhood, can contact Lt. John Schmalberger at 860-409-4216, Monday – Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.