Four Homes Burglarized in Highmount Ave. Area

Four Warren homes in neighborhoods in the Highmount Avenue area were burglarized Thursday.

Police began receiving the reports shortly before 4:30 p.m., as the residents were returning home to discover the break-ins and thefts. In two cases, windows were broken or doors were forced open; in the others, no signs of forced entry were noted, police said.

The first incident reported was on Mountain Avenue, where a window was broken and at least $100 cash taken from the property, police said. A Birchmont Lane resident reported various jewelry stolen from the residence sometime during the day at 4:30 p.m., with no obvious signs of entry, police said.

A Saddlemount Avenue resident reported shortly after 5 p.m., that the front door of the home had been broken down sometime during the day. No items have been reported stolen at this time from the residence as of Friday morning, police said.

A Stiles Road resident reported discovering a jewlery box containing a number of items stolen at about 8 p.m. The resident said the box had been taken sometime during the day, police said.

The rash of burglaries follows a pattern, when police often see burglars finding homes ripe for break-ins because of darkness setting in earlier in the day, police said. Warren Police Capt. Robert Glen has said residents can help prevent the crimes by adjusting light timers to give the appearance of someone being home.

"It's very helpful to have a timer go off in one room and another turn on in a different room—it gives the appearance of someone moving around the house," he said following a burglary last year. "You want to give the appearance of someone being home—these guys do not want to bump into anyone during a break-in."

Also, Warren residents concerned about the security of their homes can also request a home security survey by township police, who will visit the property and make recommendations aimed at deterring brewak-ins and theft.

"We alway say there's no such thing as 'crime prevention'—there's 'crime deterrance,'" Glen said. "Because if someone is going to commit a crime, they'll do it—you just don't want it to be against you."

Some residents may also want to start a neighborhood watch group, with which police also assist. Call Glen at 908-753-1419 for more information about the security surveys or neighborhood watch programs.