Police in Marblehead and Swampscott are investigating whether a series of vehicle break-ins that targeted neighborhoods in both communities are connected, as detectives continue to follow leads in the active cases.
In Marblehead, police received 17 reports of motor vehicle break-ins in the Naugus Head neighborhood between the evening hours of June 12 and the early morning hours of June 13. Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King said none of the vehicles sustained damage because they had been left unlocked.
Swampscott police reported a similar pattern of incidents in the Humphrey Street area, specifically near Cedar Hill Terrace and Bay View Avenue. According to Detective Sgt. Candace Doyle, the department received three reports of vehicles that had been entered and rummaged through.
Swampscott police also took a report of a stolen motor vehicle from a Humphrey Street resident that was later recovered by Everett police after police involvement and an arrest. In a separate incident, a motor vehicle was left abandoned in a Humphrey Street driveway and was later discovered to have been stolen out of Malden.
“We are working with other agencies on the investigation,” King said. “They appear to be connected based on proximity and timing, but that has not been confirmed. The investigation is active, and our detectives are making progress and following leads. [We’re] still encouraging people to contact us if they have information related to the cases.”
King said investigators are working on tracking down the responsible individual(s).
The June 13 Marblehead police log reflects a concentrated series of reports stretching between Naugus Head and the Waterside Cemetery area. As residents began discovering the break-ins, calls quickly spread throughout the morning and afternoon.
The first report came from Hibbard Road at 6:37 a.m., followed by calls from Kenneth Road at 7:12 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. Over the next hour, officers were dispatched to Mound Road at 8:03 a.m. and 8:35 a.m., Naugus Avenue at 8:12 a.m., 8:19 a.m., and 8:32 a.m., Johns Road at 8:43 a.m., Batchelder Road at 8:53 a.m., and Sparhawk Terrace at 9:07 a.m.
Additional reports followed, including calls on Hibbard Road at 9:17 a.m., 9:32 a.m., and 3:26 p.m.; Sparhawk Terrace at 9:40 a.m.; Kenneth Road at 11:29 a.m.; Johns Road at 1:21 p.m.; Harbor Spray Lane at 1:40 p.m.; and Naugus Avenue at 1:49 p.m. and again at 9:54 p.m.
Swampscott police logs also reflected a concentrated series of reports in the Humphrey Street area, including motor vehicle break-ins on June 13, at 10:04 a.m. and 10:27 a.m. on Bay View Avenue, followed by another report at 3:18 p.m. on Cedar Hill Terrace.
“Breaking and entering doesn’t necessarily mean a window was broken to gain entry into the vehicle,” Doyle said. “It simply means the vehicle was entered without permission of the owner, such as through an unlocked door or open window.”
She said that the car break-ins that occurred in Swampscott Saturday during the early morning hours were “possibly linked to those in Marblehead.”
The Swampscott and Marblehead police departments advised residents and visitors to keep vehicles locked at all times, especially at night or when away from them. Those headed to the beach are encouraged to keep wallets, bags, purses, and other valuables in the trunk or otherwise out of view.
Police noted that North Shore beaches experienced a rise in stolen items from vehicles parked near beaches and busy downtown shopping areas last year, and in some cases, vehicles were vandalized to gain entry and remove items.
Anyone with information related to the Marblehead incidents is encouraged to contact the Marblehead police. Swampscott police are also asking residents to report suspicious activity, noting that even small details can help prevent future thefts.
