WESTFIELD – A plague of thefts from unlocked vehicles in the city which had apparently died down in recent months flared up again overnight Saturday in the area of Pochassic and Montgomery streets. At least a half dozen unlocked vehicle were entered and property was stolen.
City police report that, starting shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday, five residents called police to report that they had discovered that their vehicle had been entered overnight.
The first caller, on Pochassic Street, reported that her unlocked car was entered while parked at her residence and a video game system was stolen.
The woman said that two other vehicles parked nearby were entered but nothing was stolen.
About two hours later, a Montgomery Street resident called to report hat two vehicles were entered at her residence.
The responding officer reports that a car and a pickup truck which had not been locked were entered during the night and a small amount of coin was stolen.
The resident who lives next door to the second victim called later and said that her SUV had been entered and, again, a small amount of cash was stolen.
Minutes late, another Prospect Street resident reported that his pickup truck, which had also been unlocked, was broken into but nothing was stolen.
Det. Lt. David Ragazzini said this morning that detectives under his command consider the recent crimes to be “definitely related” and said that they yielded “some leads which we are pursing.”
City police have advised that residents lock their vehicles when they are parked as virtually all the incidents involve vehicles which have not been locked.
Residents are also advised to ensure that, when they leave their vehicles’ unattended, no items of value are visible to passers by.
