Dedham police have logged 30 reports of vehicles being entered since July 1, with unlocked cars the common thread in the overnight crimes.
The department posted a public warning on its Facebook page on Monday, Aug. 24, urging residents across town to lock their vehicles and remove valuables every time they exit. The incidents have occurred in neighborhoods throughout Dedham during overnight hours, as Patch reported.
No arrests have been announced. No suspect descriptions have been released.
The department said perpetrators roam neighborhoods overnight while residents are sleeping. Similar crimes have been reported in surrounding communities, police said.
In neighboring Westwood, police investigated five vehicle break-ins near Burgess Avenue on Aug. 4, with at least some of those vehicles also unlocked, according to the Westwood Minute.
The '9 p.m. routine'
Dedham police are asking residents to adopt a nightly checklist they call the "9 p.m. routine":
- Lock all vehicles and remove valuables from inside
- Close garage doors
- Lock ground-floor doors and windows
- Retrieve delivered packages from porches
- Make sure valuables cannot be seen from outside the home
The department is also asking residents who see or hear unusual activity overnight to call 911 and provide as much detail as possible.
The department's Aug. 26 Facebook post did not mention increased patrols or specific neighborhoods where the break-ins have concentrated.
Residents can follow the Dedham Police Department on Facebook for updates on the investigation.
