Residents Reminded to Lock Car Doors, Park in Lit Areas
Reading, MA — Chief David Clark reports that the Reading Police Department is investigating three incidents of stolen motor vehicles and a series of break-ins and thefts from motor vehicles that occurred overnight.
On Saturday, Oct. 21, at about 5:37 a.m., Reading Police received a report that a vehicle had been idling on Main Street since 5 a.m. Upon officers’ arrival, the car was found still running with its lights on and no driver or occupants in the area.
During an on-scene investigation, officers learned that the vehicle had been stolen in Melrose overnight. Officers were able to contact the owner and return the vehicle.
At about 8:20 a.m., Reading Police received a report of a stolen motor vehicle in the area of Spring Street. The vehicle was reportedly stolen sometime during the night.
During their investigation, Reading Police received information that the car was in the Medford/Somerville area. With assistance from local law enforcement partners, the vehicle was located a short while later in Somerville and also returned to its owner.
At 10:14 a.m., Reading Police also discovered that another car was reportedly stolen from Prospect Street. This car has yet to be found.
While investigating the thefts, Reading Police received nine calls from residents reporting that their vehicles had been entered and with items missing in some cases.
The break-ins were reported in the areas of Locust Street, Middlesex Avenue, Condor Road and Copeland Road. In almost all cases, victims’ vehicles were unlocked.
To prevent falling victim to theft, the Reading Police Department offers the following tips:
- Always lock all car doors.
- Take your keys. Don’t leave them in your vehicle.
- Roll up windows and close sunroofs.
- Get in the routine of double-checking that your vehicle is locked and secure each night around 9 p.m. This is known as the “9 p.m. Routine.”
- Never leave loose electronics in plain view.
- Do not leave money in your car or loose change in plain view.
- Park in a well-lit area.
- Call police immediately if you notice something missing.
“I would like to remind community members to ensure that their cars are properly locked and that all valuable items have been removed from the car before exiting the car, regardless of what time it is,” Chief Clark said. “We are continuing to investigate several incidents of motor vehicle break-ins and thefts and ask that our community members stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity they may see.”
Anyone who would like to report a car break-in, or who has video surveillance or information regarding the stolen vehicles or the break-ins that occurred overnight, is asked to call the Reading Police Department at 781-944-1212.
