Triple Locks on a Local Business May Have Thwarted an Aspiring Thief

Monday, Aug. 24

At 3:48 p.m., report of a break and enter at a business on Park Avenue. Officers were dispatched to investigate a past B&E. On arrival Officers observed the front door to the business kicked in and the door knob on the floor. Officers spoke to the business owner, who stated that the break happened sometime since they closed on Saturday. The reporting party also stated that she drove by at approximately noon and saw the front door open, but said she did not think that was unusual since the maintenance workers were often working on the building on Mondays.

The reporting party contacted the building owner, informed him of the break and confirmed that the maintenance workers were not in the business when she drove by and saw the door open.

Officers searched the entire business, Officers observed the cash register drawer open, a door to a small refrigerator under the front counter was open and nothing else in the business was missing or disturbed. Money is not usually left in the register overnight.

At 3:48 p.m., larceny of a bike on Symmes Circle. Victim stated that he locked his bicycle in the parking garage underneath his building at 5 p.m. Aug. 20 and noticed it missing at 8 a.m. Aug. 24. He said his bicycle was locked to the metal bike rack utilizing a cable-style lock but that the lock must have been cut and the lock and bike were taken. The bicycle is a Silver, Cannondale R700, with a water bottle mount on the frame. The bike is worth $300. It does not appear that any other bicycles were tampered with. A report was filed.

At 5:48 p.m., possible breaking and entering reported at Maria’s Pizza on Massachusetts Avenue. The reporting party stated that she arrived at work this morning at 9 a.m. and noticed that there was some damage done to the back door of the restaurant.

It appears as if someone tried to break the door frame to unlock the back door and gain entrance to the building. The door has three locking mechanisms in addition to the lock on the door knob and deadbolt. The suspect was unable to gain entry to the building. There were some pry marks and wood splitting where the suspect tried to force their way in unsuccessfully.

The reporting party stated that they closed last night at approximately 9 p.m. and there was no damage to the rear door at that time.