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Burglaries on the rise in Madison Township
(by Linda Dillman - June 17, 2010)
Imagine walking in the door from a long day at work only to discover you have been robbed, in the middle of the day, in a neighborhood filled with people.
Scary thought? Yes, but also a reality, primarily for a few residents of Sun Valley (Blacklick Estates), according to Madison Township Police Detective Jim Galvin.
Galvin reported daytime burglaries are up in Madison Township and approximately 90 percent occur in the Sun Valley (Blacklick Estates) area.
"It happens when people are at work," said Galvin following a June 16 Madison Township trustee meeting, "and we've had at least a dozen reported since April. We've arrested a lot, but it keeps happening and it's mostly by people in their late teens and early 20s."
He believes the crimes are drug related.
"I think a lot of this is happening because of drugs," said Galvin. "They commit a burglary then sell the stuff on the street for money. They're stealing mostly electronics and jewelry; things like X boxes and Play Stations. It's happening mostly in Sun Valley because of the proximity of the neighborhood and the drug deals that go down. It's the economy, it's the drugs, and it's quick money."
A 19-year-old Powell woman, recently arrested in Delaware County in connection with a series of burglaries between April and May, is also suspected of break-ins in Blacklick Estates. Galvin said people reported seeing a person matching her description in Madison Township.
"We had a couple of instances where someone said a woman who looked like the suspect knocked on their door and when they answered, she made an excuse and went away," said "Galvin. "We have hair and blood samples we collected from a burglary scene and have them at the lab to see if they are a match (to the Powell woman)"
According to Galvin, the Madison Township Police Department needs the help of residents in keeping a watchful eye out for each other. He said citizens who are quick to complain about a barking dog may not be as fast to report a suspicious person or activity for a number of reasons. However, he emphasized it is better to contact the department just in case and be wrong, than to discover your suspicions were correct and a neighbor was burglarized.
"If something doesn't look right, call us," advised Galvin, who also recommended simple measures to protect personal property. "Be sure to have good locks on your doors and be sure all of your windows are locked when you leave your home. Also, thieves don't like noise or animals. Record the serial number of things that you own. We recover a fair amount of items, but a lot gets sold on the street. If you report serial numbers of items that were stolen, it makes it a lot easier to identify, especially if they show up in a pawn shop."
For information or tips to thwart thieves, call Galvin or Officer Tim Johnson at 836-5355.
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