Watertown Police Seek Residents' Help in Catching Burglars

Watertown Police seek the public’s help in stopping a string of home and apartment break-ins this year, including four last week and two more attempted break-ins.

Since Jan. 1, there have been about 15 house or apartment break-ins and two attempted break-ins, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. Watertown residents will be the key to catching the suspect or suspects.

“We have done reverse 911 calls. We have gone to apartment buildings and met with the residents,” Lawn said. “We are out in the community, but ask the community if they see something suspicious to call us. (Call us) if they see someone or some car in area that doesn’t belong.”

Most of the break-ins have occurred during the daytime, Lawn said, when people are at work or out and about. People can take precautions to secure their homes.

“Make sure that your windows and doors are all locked,” Lawn said. “And just be good neighbors and watch out for your neighbor’s house when you are home during the daytime.”

The Watertown Police Department can be reached at 617-972-6500.

This week there were several break-ins or attempted ones, said Watertown Police Sgt. Thomas Grady:

• An Acton Street home broken into Feb. 13 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The burglars through a back door and $1,400 worth of jewelry was stolen.
• Two attempted break-ins on Thurston Road were reported. It appears someone tried to get in the back doors of the homes on Feb. 14.
• Someone broke into a home on Howard Street on Feb. 15 and took some jewelry and two laptops, worth a combined $2,800.
• A burglar got into a home on Fairfield Street on Feb. 17 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The burglar got in a back door, kicked in a locked bedroom door and took about $4,200 worth of jewelry.
• A home on Charles River Road was broken into on Feb. 18 between noon and 8:30 p.m. and $700 in cash and jewelry worth an estimated $1,000 was taken. It appears someone may have gotten in through an open window.
• A break-in on Fifield Road occurred on Feb. 16 between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and a jewelry box was taken. Entry may have been gained through a back window.