BETHLEHEM — The Bethlehem Police Department is investigating multiple reported larcenies from unlocked vehicles and residential burglaries in the Old Delmar neighborhood, which occurred overnight on Monday, May 6 through the early morning of Tuesday, May 7.
Such items reported stolen by residents included money, credit cards, cash, electronic devices, and jewelry. Overhead garage doors and vehicles on driveways had been left open and unlocked at the time of the incidents, and in some cases, the suspects had entered the homes through the garage to further take items from inside. No one has been reported hurt though.
The affected area in question encompasses Winne Road, Fernbank Avenue, Douglas Road, Brookside Drive, Delmar Place, and nearby streets.
BPD Cmdr. Adam Hornick said the police believes there are multiple suspects but no resident has reported encountering any suspicious individual so far. He also encouraged residents, particularly those living in or around the aforementioned streets, to review any possible surveillance footage they have to see anything or anyone suspicious caught on camera.
Hornick brought up that it is, unfortunately, commonplace for Delmar residents to leave their vehicles on their driveways and front doors unlocked, and leave their garage doors open. “I feel that it is concerning and we know many people who are too trusting and people also have this belief that crime does not happen on their streets because they think they live in a safe neighborhood,” he said. “It’s obviously not the case and we have been dealing with these types of incidents recently a lot.”
He added that the BPD has been working and sharing information with other local police departments to determine if similar incidents occurred elsewhere recently too.
Hornick encouraged residents to also make sure their vehicles are locked at all times with no personal valuables visible from the windows, leave a house’s exterior lighting or motion lights on overnight, and to lock all garage and front doors. “If you hear something, say something, and call us,” he added. “Alert us so that we could also have a police car come through your area which can prevent crimes from happening.”
Anyone with any information on these incidents should contact Bethlehem police at 518-439-9973 or can leave an anonymous tip at www.capitalregioncrimestoppers.com.
