Girard police tie rash of burglaries to heroin trade

August 23, 2012 at 12:04a.m.

By Danny restivo

girard

Police are investigating a rash of burglaries in the city this month.

Capt. John Norman said the city is looking at several reports of home break-ins that may be drug-related.

The most recent incident occurred Tuesday when a resident on Indiana Avenue reported $4,000 worth of jewelry missing from her home. The burglary came one day after police responded to a call on North Highland Avenue where a resident said her home had been ransacked. Police said burglars gained access by cutting through a basement window screen.

According to the police report, $5,000 worth of electronics, including a flat- screen television and a laptop computer were stolen. Monday’s burglary scene was one-half mile from an Aug. 5 incident where $4,050 worth of electronics were stolen. Police said the thieves entered the home through the back patio after they shattered the glass door. Police are searching for the suspects in all three crimes.

Norman believes the increase in crime is connected to drugs.

“I believe a lot of the burglaries are a result of heroin,” he said.

Norman said drug addicts are notorious for selling stolen goods for cash at local pawn shops, but the shops in the community have been cooperative with police in their investigations. He believes the criminals now take the items to the street where they sell them directly to a willing buyer.

“Its a lot harder to track stolen goods that way,” he said.

Police said its likely the burglaries are related, but they aren’t sure if the same people are behind the most recent crimes. Norman said the suspects haven’t shown any sort of pattern, so he believes they might be from outside the area. Girard’s location along U.S. Route 422 between Youngstown and Warren makes it a prime target for criminals looking to strike in another territory, he said.

Police are asking residents to notify them of any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

“Neighbors should look out for one another, and call us if they see anything unusual,” said Norman.

“I would rather they call us for something small than let a burglary occur.”