Community Alert: Burglaries

Abington Community Alert – Residential Burglaries

With the Daylight Savings upon us and the Holiday Season fast approaching, the Tri-State area is experiencing an increase in residential burglaries. Unfortunately, Abington Township is not immune from this threat. Intelligence suggests that this increase is due in no small part to the national trend of ‘Crime Tourists’ from South America and/or Eastern Europe. These criminal groups target high-end homes. Recently Abington Police have taken several burglary reports in the Meadowbrook and Rydal areas. This communication is to inform our residents of this plight and provide our residents with information and tips to better secure their property.

Common Traits Observed by Investigators:

▪Nearly all of these burglaries happen within the first two hours of darkness
▪The suspects often case a home for hours, or even days before the burglary. Burglars specifically target residences where they believe no one is home.
▪Intelligence indicates that suspects in these cases do not want to encounter the homeowner during their burglaries and will avoid homes that are occupied. In two recent cases in our area, the suspects fled immediately upon seeing a resident in the home.
▪Entry is usually gained by smashing through a window or door in the rear of the home.
▪Some suspects utilize sophisticated Wi-Fi/Cellular jamming devices which are illegal to possess in the US. The use of these devices has been confirmed in several past Abington burglaries, and has also been confirmed to be a nation-wide trend.
▪A driver will drop off 2-4 suspects in the area of the targeted home and will circle the neighborhood until contacted by the burglars to get picked back up near the home. It is most common for the suspects to utilize rental cars with out of state license plates. Common states of origin are New York and Florida.
▪ In past burglaries, suspects have been known to use a ruse such a pizza delivery or a well-dressed female to knock on the door, to see if anyone was home. In another incident, the suspects threw small pebbles at an upstairs window, then hid in the bushes to see if there was a response.

Prevention Tips for Homeowners:

▪Be alert for suspicious persons and vehicles in your neighborhood. If you see something suspicious, especially around dusk, call 9-1-1 and officers will respond to investigate.
▪Keep your property well-lit. Utilize timers to automatically activate lights.
▪Set your alarm. A hard-wired alarm will defeat a jamming device.
▪Most surveillance camera systems will notify you if motion is detected on your property when you are not home. Contact 9-1-1 immediately.
▪Park a car visible in your driveway when you are not home.
▪Burglars will normally target the master bedroom. Secure valuables in other areas of the home.

Please know that the Abington Police Department will be conducting extra patrols and will be utilizing proactive surveillance activities in the area. Any additional questions or concerns can be addressed by Detective Sergeant Troy Hummel, (267)536-1111, thummel@abingtonpa.gov