Berlin Police Warn Against Vigilantism In Property Theft Cases

BERLIN, CT — Berlin police released a statement regarding how residents should respond if they have their property stolen. They said residents should not intervene themselves and instead should call police.

Police said in a Facebook post: "We are aware of the frustration associated with the increased number of property crimes that have occurred since the start of the pandemic. Your calls to report suspicious persons, vehicles, and activity has helped us disrupt crimes in progress and has aided in the overall prevention of crime in Berlin.

"We remind and ask our community members to continue to watch over your neighborhoods, but do not intervene. That’s our job. Call us. Criminals are becoming more brazen and it is not worth jeopardizing your safety. There have been a number of incidents throughout Connecticut where thieves have threatened property owners with a firearm when confronted. Our message is simple. We want our citizen’s to be vigilant, not vigilantes."