Crime & Safety
Burlington Latest Area Town To Be Hit By Car Break-Ins
Recent car break-ins in area towns renews fears that the Felony Lane Gang is once again operating in Massachusetts.
BURLINGTON, MA -- Burlington residents took to social media Tuesday to discuss a series of car break-ins in recent days. One resident said 25 cars, including hers, were broken into overnight Monday, while others speculated that Burlington was the latest target of the Felony Lane Gang, a national syndicate that methodically breaks into cars in suburban areas.
Burlington Police were not immediately available for comment Tuesday night, but recent police logs show a significant uptick in car break-ins in town. On October 5, police responded to reports of multiple break-ins the previous night on Virginia Road, Short Avenue, and Brookside Lane.
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Similar vehicle break-ins have been reported in Tewksbury, Wilmington and North Reading, among other communities. In Wilmington, police have stepped up patrols in targeted areas. Last month Tewksbury Police arrested a teen suspected in several car break-ins over the summer. In all of those towns, police are warning residents to lock their cars and remove valuables, even when their car is parked in the driveway.
Please remember to remove all valuables from your vehicles and lock their doors. There have been reports of several car breaks recently.
— Burlington Police MA (@burlingtonpd) October 17, 2017
The recent break-ins in greater Boston has led police to speculate that the Felony Lane Gang is once again working in the state. Police say the national syndicate has between 800 and 1,000 members, most of whom were recruited online. They look for women's purses left in cars, often leaving behind electronics and other valuables, and try to cash stolen checks using disguises and drive-thru teller windows to make them appear more like their victims.
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The U.S. Department if Justice says a regional hub operates out of Connecticut. Last year, the agency said, the gang was responsible for more than $1 million in thefts. A similar wave of thefts in Massachusetts in March 2016 was also attributed to the Felony Lane Gang.
Patch file photo of suspected Felony Lane Gang member distributed by Weston Police in March 2016.
Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).
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