Police warn Medford residents: Keep your car doors locked

Police in the area are warning residents to keep their car doors locked and remove any and all valuables following a series of break-ins and thefts this year.

Communities hit hard include Lexington, Arlington, Belmont, Stoneham, Woburn, Reading, Wakefield, Waltham, Wilmington, Newton and Danvers. Winchester Police say Lexington was hardest hit, reporting 27 car break-ins in a single night.

All the vehicles hit, police say, were unlocked.

Winchester Police Lt. Ed Donahue said police believe the suspects are using between one to four cars for the break-ins and are operating between the hours of 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.

“They target an entire neighborhood by pulling up together and parking simultaneously,” Donahue said in an email to Winchester News. “The suspects — ranging from 1-4 people in a respective car — test the door handles to see if a target vehicle is unlocked. If it is locked, they move on. If it is unlocked, they search the vehicle systematically —  checking the driver’s area and center console first, then work their way towards the rear passenger and trunk area for SUVs. 

“The group will then retreat to their staged cars and leave the area,” he continued. “Utilizing this method, they are able to hit multiple vehicles in a matter of minutes. Because they are not setting off car alarms or breaking windows, this limits detection.”

Donahue added that in “all cases where the vehicle itself has been stolen, the keys/fobs have been left inside. The stolen vehicles are either used in their scheme that night or ‘joyridden’ and left abandoned.”

Donahue went on to urge residents to lock their vehicles and remove valuables, such as high-end sunglasses, bags, money, computers. He added residents should also park in well-lit areas and make sure to turn on their home security systems.

Kayla Rochon, senior public relations associate at John Guilfoil Public Relations, which represents several of the police departments in the break-in area, said Stoneham Police can confirm the department has seen an uptick in motor vehicle break-ins.

“There have been roughly 47 reported break-ins this year and nine stolen cars,” she said, via email. “The department reports that in most cases, the vehicles are left unlocked or have the keys inside the cars. Suspects appear to be wearing face coverings and hoodies, and appear to be traveling in large groups.”

Rochon added Stoneham Police believe that most of the crimes involve juveniles.

In Malden, police there have also seen a huge uptick in car break-ins and thefts.

“Over the past several days, Malden Police officers have responded to numerous auto burglaries, many involving unlocked vehicles,” a police alert reads. “Don’t make it easy for criminals. An unlocked car door is an open invitation. These thefts often happen in seconds, without forced entry. Take a moment. Lock your vehicle. Protect your belongings.”

Medford has yet to see the amount of break-ins as other communities.

“We haven’t seen an uptick,” said Medford Police Department Public Information/Community Outreach Officer Jessica Walsh. “We haven’t had a rash like Reading or Winchester.”

Walsh said these types of crimes tend to ebb and flow.

“We like to say criminals are people, too,” Walsh said. “They are largely inactive when the weather is bad and then when it gets nicer, they get out there.”

Walsh said any of the break-ins Medford has experienced have again been unlocked cars.

“It’s rare for us to see a smash and grab,” she said. “It’s a crime of opportunity. They see if the cars are unlocked. If they are, great. If not, they tend to move on.”

Walsh said she’s not sure why Medford hasn’t been hit as badly, but she said the break-ins seem to be in more affluent-type areas.

“I would say my one tip is really to always lock your doors,” Walsh added.