Hamden Police Chief: Town is Safe Despite Recent Incidents

Despite a recent rash of robberies and home invasions, Hamden Police Chief Thomas Wydra assures residents that the town is safe and said that crime has actually gone down despite the recent events, according to the New Haven Register.

In the past week, Hamden police have arrested a New Haven man in connection with the October Internet dating home invasion on Mix Avenue and two teens were charged in connection with a recent shooting on Dixwell Avenue.

“I do understand the public’s perception there has been an uptick in crime,” Wydra told Keldy Ortiz of the New Haven Register. “The hope is that those arrests should alleviate people’s fear.”

To sign up for breaking news alerts and more, click here

Within the past two weeks there have been two armed robberies of food delivery drivers and another attempted robbery of a pizza delivery driver in which the man was able to safely drive away. Those cases have yet to be solved.

Wydra told the Register that they have increased patrols in the last three weeks, particularly in shopping areas to deter crime.

According to the Register, there were 62 robberies and 119 residential burglaries in Hamden in 2013 and the unofficial 2014 numbers show there have been 61 robberies and 111 burglaries at residences.

Read the full story at the New Haven Register here.

Also on Patch:

• Police Arrest New Haven Man in Connection With Hamden Internet Dating Home Invasion
• Two Hamden Teens Charged in Connection with Dixwell Avenue Shootings
• China Wok Delivery Man Robbed at Gunpoint in Hamden
• Hamden Police Investigating Another Armed Robbery of a Pizza Delivery Driver
• Domino’s Pizza Driver Robbed at Gunpoint After Making Delivery to Quinnipiac University
• Hamden Man Accused of Home Invasions, Robberies and Burglaries Arrested
• Hamden Man Wanted on Murder Charge Taken Into Custody

Have a news tip? Email Vincent.salzo@patch.com. You can also post your own news, events and announcements on Patch by following these directions. Curious about how our new commenting platform, Disqus, works? Learn more about it here and start interacting with your neighbors on Patch.t