Sgt. Jim Babu told the Press Tuesday that Harvard police are close to charging two people in connection with at least two recent break-ins in town, and that one suspect was arrested this week on separate charges by Leominster police. Babu said that Littleton and Harvard police will likely file charges against that suspect as well.
Babu said that a break in the case came on Thursday, April 30, when Boxborough police became suspicious of a dark sport utility vehicle in their town, ran the plate number, and found it was registered to a Leominster woman. That vehicle was later matched to the description of one involved in an attempted burglary in Littleton the same day, and ultimately connected to a break-in on South Shaker Road in Harvard earlier in the week.
—Sgt. Jim Babu
Babu said that in the South Shaker Road incident, on April 28, thieves gained entry to the home by popping open the screen in an open window in the laundry room. They stole a number of items, including a flat-screen TV, a laptop computer, cash, and a fire-safe box that contained personal documents. The value of the stolen goods is estimated at more than $5,000.
On Thursday, April 30, police responding to a burglar alarm at a home on Old Littleton Road found that someone had kicked in the door in a break-in attempt, and was apparently scared off when the alarm sounded. Although police arrived on the scene within four minutes of the alarm, they found no one in the area.
Later that day thieves attempted to kick in the door of a home in Littleton while the residents were there. The suspects fled when they realized the owners were home. The residents did not get the plate number of the vehicle that was used in the attempt, but were able to provide a description of it to police, who found a match with the car observed by Boxborough police earlier in the day.
Police investigating the case went to the Leominster apartment of the SUV owner and found the fire-safe box and personal documents stolen from the family on South Shaker Road. According to Babu, the woman in the apartment gave police information about others who were involved in thefts in the area and told them the name of the hotel where the suspects could be found. One person was arrested by Leominster police on charges that are not connected with the Harvard thefts, and will likely face charges by Littleton and Harvard police as well, Babu said. He added that at least two other people will be facing charges.
These burglaries are the latest in a rash of thefts that have been occurring in Harvard and surrounding towns since late last year. At the end of October, $12,000 worth of items were stolen from a West Bare Hill Road residence. The next day thieves hit a home on Park Lane, prompting residents there to form a neighborhood watch group. Burglaries were reported on Slough Road in December, on Westcott Road in January, and on Old Littleton Road in April. Items stolen, amounting to thousands of dollars, included jewelry, flat-screen TVs, and other electronic equipment.
Babu confirmed that thieves are targeting jewelry and electronics; a popular item has been flat-screen TVs. “We don’t know where the TVs are going,” said Babu. “They haven’t turned up in any area pawn shops.” He explained that pawn shops require some identification from the seller and a waiting period before an item can be sold. Gold, he said, is easier to dispose of. Thieves can melt it down and take it to a number of places that will pay them in cash without asking for any kind of identification. People will never recover their stolen gold jewelry, said Babu.
Babu said that thieves are “taking advantage” in Harvard. “A lot of houses aren’t secured,” he commented, adding that thieves “know there’s usually only one [police] officer on duty.” And, he said, “They’re hitting homes in the daytime while people are at work.”
Detective Jack Izzo, who is working on the investigation, stressed the importance of people locking their homes, and said that residents can help police in these cases by making note of the license plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles. “Getting the plate number is very important,” he said.
Babu advised that residents should take photos of their jewelry and record serial numbers on electronic equipment. He added that people should make a point of being aware of what’s going on in their neighborhoods. “Let your neighbors know if you’re going to be away,” he warned.
