Police seek assistance
in combating burglaries
By karl vilacoba
Staff Writer
Police are asking Marlboro residents for increased vigilance in the face of a rash of burglaries that have plagued the community in recent weeks.
According to Marlboro Police Capt. Brian Hall, about five similar burglary incidents have oc-curred over the past three or four weeks. Police declined to release specific details on the incidents, citing fears of jeopardizing the investigation, but they are calling the work professional in manner.
"They may be here for a few weeks and leave, then go set up somewhere else," Hall said. "They stay just long enough so the police don’t have enough time to set up on them."
Similar characteristics of the crimes have been forced entries and forced disabling of alarm and communication systems, Hall said. The incidents are believed to have occurred at night when homes are unattended, he said.
To address the issue, police are urging residents not to hesitate to call them if they see suspicious vehicles in their neighborhoods. Participation in neighborhood watch programs is also being encouraged.
Equipping a home with an alarm is a good safety practice, but no substitute for residents who know their neighborhoods and can spot suspicious activity, Hall said.
"Everyone today thinks the alarm system is the perfect panacea, and it’s not. These things can be defeated, and once a professional knows how, they have carte blanche in your home," Hall said. "Alarms are good for honest people, but where there’s a will, there’s a way."
Historically, neighborhood watch programs and aggressive highway patrolling have made Marlboro a spot for burglars to avoid, said Sgt. Douglas VanNote of the Community Policing Unit. However, many new developments don’t have a neighborhood watch program set up yet.
One key to the neighborhood watches is the selection of block coordinators and block captains who coordinate communication in the neighborhoods and act as liaisons between residents and police. For assistance on forming a neighborhood watch program, residents are encouraged to call VanNote at (732) 536-0100.
The four-member Community Policing Unit can also conduct home security surveys and organize any kind of crime prevention programs, VanNote said. For example, if residents are interested in learning more about child abduction prevention, a program or informational lecture can be arranged, he said.
"If we don’t find the program, we’ll invent it," VanNote said.
Hall said burglaries have been down to only a handful in recent years compared to the 1980s, when there were between 75 and 100 in a year. But rashes like the recent one are cyclical, and residents should not be lulled by the peaceful surroundings, police said.
"We’ve become too complacent out there. We’re relying too much on technology, and technology can be defeated. Just because this is an upper- and middle-class community doesn’t make it completely secure," Hall said.
VanNote said rumors going around town about "home invasions" that involve residents being restrained by criminals are not true. An incident of that nature occurred on Fella Drive in April, but it is not believed to be related to the current string of burglaries.