Crime Spree Hits Winchester

It began Wednesday night and continued in force Thursday. There were three car break-ins on Wednesday evening.

The next night saw 13 more cars broken into around Winchester. All of the vehicles were parked in the owners' driveway, and none of them noticed the car break-ins until the next morning.

"Whoever was doing it when out and had a field day," said Winchester Police Lieutenant Peter MacDonnell.

Wednesday night saw a handful of cars with broken windows, but on Thursday all of the vehicles that were broken into had left their doors unlocked.

"People just have to lock their cars," MacDonnell said. "They have to take their valuables out of their cars and lock them. If you do that then you won't become a victim."

The perpetrator appeared to be looking for money in most cases and other valuables that may have been left in the cars. Sunglasses, I-pods, GPS devices and money were the main items that were taken.

However, in one instance, the burglar stole numerous items off a Harley Davidson motorcycle that were estimated to cost a little less than $4,000.

MacDonnell believes that there was probably more than one person breaking into the cars, considering there were so many in the one night.

"They picked an area in town and went there late at night," MacDonnell said. "They started checking to see if any of the cars were left open, and if there were any valuables in the car. In some instances they broke the window, but in most cases the doors were left unlocked."

Cars were broken into at Stonefield Circle, Albamont Road, Thoreau Circle, Jefferson Road, Herrick Street, Allen Road, Chestnut Street and Linden Street.

Along with locking your doors and removing valuables from your car at night, MacDonnell also suggested people purchase motion sensor lights for their garages. He explained that if someone walks in front the sensors the light will go on, and it will deter the criminal from breaking into your car.

Even though one victim of the break-in did notice when his sensors went on, he just believed it was an animal crossing in front of them. Nothing was stolen from his car. But to have that many break-ins in one night is still highly unusual.

"It's surprising to have that many in one night," MacDonnell said. "It seemed like they just picked one area in town and went crazy."

Below is the police report for the break-ins:

Wednesday, August 11, 7:11 a.m. – Police responded Stonefield Circle to a reported break-in of a car. The front passenger window of the car was broken and the owner's I-Pod was stolen.

August 11, 10:04 a.m. – Winchester police arrived at Albamont Road where the homeowner explained to the officer that someone had broken into their vehicle that was parked in the driveway. The perpetrator had smashed the passenger side front window. It did not appear that anything was stolen. The family's second car had its doors unlocked and it appeared as though someone went through the car looking for items. Again, it did not appear that anything was stolen.

The police were unable to attain any fingerprints because they were made with latex gloves. The officer informed the couple to, in the future, lock their doors and bring all valuable material from their cars, inside.

August 11, 9:23 a.m. – Police responded to Thoreau Circle where the owner of the vehicle informed police that his vehicle had been broken into. The car, which was locked and parked in the driveway, had its right front window broken. Stolen from the vehicle was an Apple Ipod, a Garmin Nuvi GPS, a black nylon shoulder messenger bag and a set of Klipch headphones.

Thursday, August 12, 6:35 a.m.– Another vehicle was broken into Thursday morning. Police arrived at Herrick Street where a homeowner informed police that both of his unlocked vehicles were broken into overnight. The car owner reported that his GPS, jumper cables, CDs and $10 in cash were stolen from his vehicle.

August 12, 8:12 a.m. – A Winchester resident appeared at the Police Station and informed police that his vehicle had been broken into. It was left unlocked in his driveway overnight, and nothing appeared to be missing. But the glove box was left open and there were papers thrown throughout the car.

August 12, 8:26 a.m. ­– Another report of attempted larceny from a motor vehicle was reported at the police station. The owner of the vehicle arrived at the police station and told police that, while nothing was stolen, someone went through her glove box.

August 12, 8:48 a.m. – Police arrived at Herrick Street where a Winchester woman informed police that her car had been broken into. She told police that two sunglasses worth $240 were stolen. Nothing else appeared to be missing, she informed police that normally she leaves her car doors unlocked in her driveway overnight.

August 12, 10:03 a.m. – Police responded to the station lobby where a Winchester woman told police that her vehicle had been broken into. The car door was left unlocked, but the center console had all its contents thrown throughout the car. She also had all her coupons dumped out into the car.

August 12, 10:22 a.m. –  Winchester Police were called to Chestnut Street where another vehicle was broken into. The car was left unlocked and a $200 pair of sunglasses was stolen from the vehicle. Nothing else seemed to be taken, but an envelope was left opened in the car, and the woman believed whoever broke into her car was looking for money.

August 12, 10:39 a.m. –  Police arrived at Linden St., not for a car that was broken into but for a motorcycle. The 2008 Harley was parked on the deck Wednesday night. Stolen form the vehicle was a black leather tour pack ($700), a chrome tour pack ($200), a chrome rack ($100), an organizer ($100), two black leather saddle bags ($700), two saggy bag inserts ($150). Also taken was a cycle cover ($100), two chrome side-view mirrors ($230), chrome air filter cover ($150), the windshield ($300), black leather seat with black rest ($400), chrome passenger handles ($150), black leather windshield bag ($100), a Harley Davidson jacket ($500) and various tools ($180).

August 12, 10:40 a.m. – This time the police stayed close to home, as they took a report of a motor vehicle larceny from the lobby of the station. The driver told police that the car, which was left open, had been entered into the previous night. Only about $5 of loose change appeared to be missing.

August 12, 3:24 p.m. – Police arrived at Longfellow Road where a woman informed the officer that her car had been broken into. She told police that the car was parked in her driveway. In the morning a neighbor gave her a bag of her belongings that were scattered along her front lawn. The woman informed police that she is still missing her I-pod Nano ($200) and Ralph Lauren sunglasses ($400).

August 12, 4:50 p.m. – When police arrived at Allen Road, a woman told the officer that her car had been broken into. The car, which was left unlocked, was parked in the driveway. The woman believes that only $2 in change was stolen from her vehicle.

August 12, 6:16 p.m. – This time it was a car parked at Madison Avenue that was broken into. Taken from the car was a pair of sunglasses worth $400, another pair worth $150 and $20 was taken from the center console.

August 12, 6:40 p.m. – When police arrived at Allen Road, the car owner informed police that his motor vehicle was broken into, but it does not appear as if anything was stolen.

August 12, 7:30 p.m. – Another motor vehicle break-in took place along Lawson Road however, this time nothing was stolen.