DELMAR — The Bethlehem Police Department is investigating a rash of thefts across town in recent weeks.
Bethlehem Police Commander Adam Hornick said his agency received six calls in the Kenholms neighborhood of Elsmere on Tuesday, July 7. Those calls followed a similar rash in both Old Delmar and Glenmont. Though the number of calls for the year are yet available, Hornick said this year seems “a bit high.”
“Thefts from motor vehicles are very common in our time,” Hornick said. “Multiple times a year we see a rash of them. This year does seem a bit high, and we are seeing them in many parts of town.”
Bethlehem police continue to investigate a string of larcenies at Deer Run Apartments in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 27.
The person or people absconded with various items from unlocked cars. Loose change, wallets, phone chargers, hand sanitizer and tools were taken, according to one resident. One car reportedly showed evidence of someone attempting to rip out the console from inside.
“It is difficult to say that it is the same group or groups,” Hornick said, “as we are seeing an increase in property crimes for many reasons.
According to the department’s annual report, general petit and grand larceny is down since the agency recorded a high of 431 in 2012. The total number has trended downward since with peaks of 389 in 2015 and 373 in 2018.
Break-in that result in nothing stolen are reported as trespassing. Since 2012, trespassing has also ticked down from 46 to a low of 16 in 2016. The most recent report recorded 20 cases of trespassing in 2018.
Hornick said Bethlehem police uses social media to help inform the public of trending incidents.
