By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
A rise in crime during February in the Edgewater Park area of Madison Township has residents keeping a close eye on their property and that of their neighbors.
According to Madison Township Police Chief Gary York, the police began experiencing an increase in calls to Edgewater Park and nearby areas on Feb. 3. Burglaries were reported Feb. 3-6 in the 3400 block of S. Hamilton Road, 3300 block of Madeline Drive, 4400 block of Madeline Drive, and the 4400 block of Katherine Road.
A Feb. 7 burglary in the nearby 4400 block of Reinbeau Drive was reclassified to criminal trespass. On Feb. 8 there was a theft in the 3300 block of Madeline Road and two burglary in process calls on Feb. 9 in the 3300 block of Daglow Road and 3300 block of S. Hamilton Road.
“According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department radio room, between Jan. 5 and Feb. 10, the Madison Township Police Department was dispatched to 37 incidents throughout the township involving burglary in progress calls, reported burglaries and reported larcenies,” said York.
Last year, township officers responded to 3,546 dispatched calls, down 778 from the previous year.
“In some instances, Madison Township Police Department officers are dispatched to a report of a burglary alarm only to determine that it was a false alarm or are canceled while enroute,” said York. “According to our records, there were a total of 46 burglaries and 162 larcenies reported in 2018.”
Since Jan. 1, 2019, there were eight burglaries and 20 larcenies reported. Five of the reported burglaries were from the Edgewater Park area – one is being reclassified to criminal trespass and the other four are possibly linked.
“I am pleased to report, that a suspect in one particular burglary has been identified and arrested,” York said. “He has been charged with the burglary of a home in Edgewater Park, which occurred earlier this month thanks to the great work of both our patrol and detective bureau.”
Edgewater Park resident Stephanie Green said her husband had personal items stolen from his truck during a spree of eight car break-ins during the night of Jan. 15. She also reported a young child almost ran into a discarded syringe in an alley near her home.
“Activity like this has been going on for years,” said Green, “but it seems to have gotten worse since the beginning of the year. Our neighborhood is really tight and people really look out for each other.”
The Madison Township Police Department asked officers to increase visibility in the area and residents are asked to report any suspicious activity.
“If you are a victim of a crime but don’t wish to file a report, you are encouraged to let us know,” said York. “If we’re not getting calls it’s hard for our officers to know that anything is going on. To have a township officer dispatched, residents can call 614-836-9000.”
