SWAMPSCOTT — Police are warning residents to lock their vehicles after a substantial increase in car break-ins with theft over the last two weeks.
In a town that typically doesn’t see any car break-ins on an average week, there were 15 reported last week and four on Sunday night, Swampscott Police Sgt. Tim Cassidy said.
Most breaks have occurred overnight near the Lynn line and all targeted vehicles were unlocked. Some have been by Fairview Avenue, Prospect Street and Eastern Avenue, Cassidy said.
“Every now and then, we’ll just get a little rash of breaks like this and it stops or, hopefully, we’ll catch them,” Cassidy said. “We have guys out there concentrating in that area.”
Cassidy said police believe the breaks are being committed by the same person, or by a couple of people who know each other. The breaks are under investigation, but police do have a potential suspect in mind, someone who has a history of breaking into cars.
Most of the thefts have involved change stolen from the cars, with nothing substantial taken. The cars have been in driveways or parked on the street, Cassidy said.
In the wake of increased vehicle burglaries, police are reminding residents of the importance of locking their vehicles every night and removing valuables from their cars. If people must leave their valuables in the car, police advise them to keep them locked in the glove box or center console.
Police arrested two people for attempting to break into a car two weeks ago.
Legmarie Diaz, 28, of 55 Rock Ave., Lynn, was charged with attempt to commit a crime.
Milton Rodriguez, 33, of 55 Rock Ave., was charged with attempt to commit a crime and receiving stolen property.
Cassidy said the two were seen opening unlocked car doors in the Jessie Street area at approximately 1 a.m. on Sept. 16. Someone called the suspicious activity into police, who responded and arrested the suspects.
Police believe the recent break-ins are being committed by other people and are not related, but Cassidy said those two arrests highlight the importance of residents reporting suspicious activity to them.
“When they see someone, they need to call us right away,” Cassidy said.
