ORONO, Maine — A recent rash of vehicle burglaries in which windows were smashed to gain entry into locked cars has spread from Old Town and Milford into Orono.
Two vehicles had windows smashed and items stolen from them in the same area of Orono on Nov. 11, and another car was burglarized the same way Nov. 16 on College Avenue. In each case, the break-ins occurred between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., police said.
That brings to nine the total of cars broken into and burglarized in the previous nine days in the area. In all nine cases, the vehicles were locked up, but the burglar smashed one of the windows to steal wallets or purses that were clearly visible from outside the vehicle.
“We had three over the weekend where purses or wallets were taken despite the cars being locked,” said Orono police Capt. Josh Ewing.
Ewing said the first two burglaries in Orono occurred on Peters and Pierce streets. A total of $530 in cash was taken and $300-400 in damage was done to each vehicle, according to Ewing.
Orono and Old Town police officers are asking for the public’s help in catching whoever is responsible for the break-ins. People can call or provide tips via the Internet anonymously to Orono police at 866-4000 or online at orono.org/police, or to Old Town police at 827-6358 or online at http://www.oldtownpd.org/feedback.php.
Hmm, and the lesson of this is, ah, eh… Don’t leave anything worth stealing in the car. Dang, boy, what a concept! Then save yourself a busted window and leave it unlocked. LOL Cost me a couple hundred to learn this lesson, but it sure stuck.
I’ve left some crappy old CDs in my car in the hopes someone would steal them, but no one has yet. :(
If they are high school teenage criminals on a crime spree, but they get good grades and play sports in school, Winslow PD will call them “good kids” if they get caught.
What? you dont believe it? Read two paragraphs from the bottom, on this crime spree last summer:
http://www.pressherald.com/news/homemade-bombs-in-winslow-lead-to-crime-spree-suspects_2012-07-22.html
Locks only keep out honest people…..
I have by accident left my wallet sitting on my passenger seat overnight. Thankfully it was still there in the morning but I honestly didn’t know I left it there. Now if one leaves a wallet or purse in the vehicle on purpose and it gets stolen, I feel no pity for you.
imagine that!!! No pity for someone who makes a mistake,,huh is that a lack of empathy your displaying?
Please re-read what I wrote, thank you.
Yeah REALLY…READ WHAT HE WROTE!
You left your wallet visible on the seat by accident and yet you are so harsh with others who do the same thing?
Again, read what I wrote. Did you miss the word on purpose or did you simply skip over it?
You’re right, I missed the word ‘purpose’. My apologies and have a great turkey day!
Lock Up Your Car !
Seriously? Read the story….they broke the windows out.
Good point CJ.
After police tell everyone to lock their doors, thieves start breaking windows to enter vehicles.
For under $100, one can buy and place a small device that you set up in your vehicle. when your vehicle doors open up, in 1 second your cell phone sitting next to you in bed ‘calls you’ to let you know…with photo too.
Then for under $40, a driveway alarm,that goes off before a criminal reaches your vehicle.
Wallet is in my pocket or on my nightstand at all times. I could care less if someone wants my FM Transmitter (which is crap anyway) or a few dollars in loose change. Moral of the story, don’t leave any personal valuables in your vehicle.