Salem Police Department Investigating Vehicle Thefts, Break-Ins

SALEM, NH — Salem police are investigating a number of vehicle thefts and break-ins around town, mostly in the northern part of the community, while also asking the public to protect themselves from theft.

On Tuesday, Chief Joel Dolan issued an alert stating that during the past several evenings, a number of vehicle break-ins occurred across town. Most, he added, took place in North Salem.

“In addition, several motor vehicles have been stolen in Salem and in neighboring communities,” he said.

During the early morning hours of Nov. 9, police recovered two vehicles they suspect were linked to the crime spree.

The investigation into the stolen vehicles is active and ongoing, with police requesting search warrants, Capt. Jason Smith, the department’s operations support commander, said.

“Our investigation has become much more difficult due to a new state law that went into effect in October,” he added. “Law enforcement cannot ask a stolen car’s owner for consent to search the vehicle but must obtain a search warrant. This ill-conceived law creates an additional hurdle in collecting evidence and prolongs these investigations considerably.”

Police posted the following commonsense tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) when parking and exiting their vehicle:

• Take your keys. Don’t leave them in your vehicle.
• Close all windows and lock all doors.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle. Anything stored inside your vehicle should be out of sight or in the trunk.
• Never leave credit cards/debit cards, cash, or your wallet or purse inside of your vehicle overnight.
• Park in well-lit areas or preferably inside a garage, if possible. Park in visible areas where your vehicle is not hidden by foliage or larger vehicles. Install lights with motion sensors near where you park your vehicle.
• Double-check that your vehicle is locked and secured at about 9 p.m. each night. This is known as the “9 p.m. Routine.”

Anyone with information about the thefts or who may have surveillance video or images of the incidents is being asked to contact the police at 603-893-1911.

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