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By Stephen Press
Hometown Weekly Staff
Reports of overnight vehicular break-ins in Walpole have some residents nervous during the holiday season. The reports of the break-ins have largely originated from the area around Route 1.
Particularly in the wake of the recent weapons discharge at the Econo Lodge on the Walpole-Sharon border (which itself is located on Route 1), some citizens are fearing a connection between the shooting and the increased reports of theft. It is a fear that Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael was quick to address.
“The incident at Econo Lodge is not related to other crime in Walpole,” reassured Chief Carmichael, “as it was a random situation that landed on our doorstep, and those involved came into Walpole and discarded the gun used.”
Still, Chief Carmichael offered some context to go with the recent break-in reports.
“Historically, the highest amount of incidents reported can be associated with the Route 1 corridor and that side of town because of population density, highways, and more targeted areas for crime,” he explained. “With that said, this time of year when we are approaching the holidays, we usually see an increase in house breaks and vehicle breaks.
“We have not been having house breaks recently, but we have been having car breaks for about a month. Every single vehicle that has been entered and property stolen from it was unlocked, and not one vehicle entered had the window smashed out.”
To these facts, Chief Carmichael offered a pragmatic solution: vigilance and common sense.
“The best way to address home and car breaks is to safeguard property,” succinctly explained the Chief. “People still leave their homes and vehicles unlocked, which makes it easy for criminals to access valuables.
“For the vast majority of times, criminals will use the path of least resistance – and most don’t kick doors in or break glass in order to commit a break-in to a home or vehicle. They simply open the door and will target locations that are not safeguarded.”
“The car breaks involve a very fluid and active investigation, and the Walpole Police Department is using all our resources to identify the perpetrator or perpetrators,” said Chief Carmichael.
He also added that residents themselves had an important role to play in the investigation.
“What also helps is the community and the police working together. Many times, citizens observe things out of place or see suspicious persons or activity, and they will report it to the police so we can respond appropriately.”
As the new year approaches, residents and police alike are hoping for a safe and secure holiday season. The police, of course, will be doing their part every day as they keep watch over the town.
By keeping their eyes open and property secure, Walpole’s residents can do their own part, too.
