Police are stepping up patrols in response to several burglaries over Thanksgiving weekend in Greenwich.
There were four burglaries and another attempted one at night over the holiday weekend and there were four other burglaries in November, according to Greenwich police. Burglars got into the homes by forcing doors open, smashing windows and, in one case, entering through an unlocked window on the second-floor balcony, police said.
Police believe the burglaries are likely connected.
"We believe that the homes were targeted by an organized group and that these were not simple crimes of opportunity," Greenwich police said in a news release. "The homes seem to have been targeted based upon the likelihood that they were unoccupied, but in one instance the victimized home was occupied. In that instance the suspects left once they realized that someone was home. Typically thieves are looking to steal portable high value items, quickly and without conflict."
A neighbor observed one of the burglaries, but police learned that the person didn't report it. The department urges residents to be vigilant in their neighborhoods and report any suspicious activities to the non-emergency dispatch line at 203-622-8001 or to call 911 immediately if they see a crime underway.
Police are in communication with law enforcement from surrounding towns to see if other areas have been targeted.
To ward off burglars, Greenwich police advise residents to tell a neighbor about vacation plans, activate alarms, program light timers and install motion sensor lights.
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Residents can also call the department's non-emergency line to notify police of the days they'll be away from their homes, the names of people and a description of the vehicles allowed to be there and key-holder contact information, police said. That way the officers patrolling neighborhoods will be aware the home is supposed to be vacant and check on those properties periodically, according to police.
In the event you do come face to face with a burglar, police caution residents not to confront the person. Instead, get out of the house and call police. If you return home and something doesn't seem right, police said to go to a neighbors and dial 911. Keep your phones charged overnight so you can make calls in an emergency and also keep an inventory of your valuables stored safely at another address, police said.
