61 Vehicles Burglarized In Just 8 Weeks: Tredyffrin Police

BERWYN, PA – Tredyffrin Township Police said they have received 43 reports of 61 theft from vehicle incidents in just eight weeks in the township and are offering the public physical home security assessments on the heels of these thefts.

The thefts occurred between March 16 and May 20, according to police. The thefts hit Berwyn, Strafford, Wayne, and other sections of the township, police said.

Police said just two of the 61 vehicles burglarizes were locked. Those vehicles incurred two broken windows and the total loss for those two vehicles was approximately $2,500, police said.

In once instance, a vehicle was burglarized after the suspect got inside an open garage with three vehicles parked in it, police said.

A common thread connecting most of these thefts was visible change in the vehicles, while police said in other instances sunglasses, brief cases, checkbooks, and wallets were stolen.

"We are advocating the public to use vigilance in the securing of their vehicles and the removal of items of
apparent value to areas not in view inside their vehicles (i.e. trunks, in the home)," police said. "The use of exterior lighting to include photo-celled motion sensor units is encouraged."

Most of the incidents occurred overnight, police said.

The list of reported incidents is:

• four reports – Thursday, March 16 and Friday, March 17 in the Strafford section of the Township
• two reports – Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 in the Berwyn section of the Township
• three reports – Friday, April 6 and Saturday April 7 on Thomas Road;
• one report – Sunday, April 30 and Monday, May 1 on General Scott Road;
• 10 reports – Thursday, April 27 and Friday April, 28 in the Valley Forges Estates section of Wayne.
• two reports – Tuesday, May 2 and Wednesday May 3 on Prussian Lane;
• three reports – Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13 on Coldstream Drive;
• 16 reports – Friday May 19 and Saturday, May 20 all in the Valley Forges Estates section on Von Steuben, Prussian, Anthony Wayne, Thomas, Brookmead and Sullivan roads.

Police are offering the public physical security assessment of township homes. If you would like an assessment, contact the community policing unit at (610) 644-3221, attention Officer Joseph Butler.

Anyone with information that can assist the Department in these cases is asked to contact Det./Sgt. Todd Bereda at tbereda@tredyffrin.org or Det. Daniel McFadden at dmcfadden@tredyffrin.org.

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