PHOTOS: Authorities are investigating after hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of items were stolen from Lakewood homes in what appears to be the work of the same burglar, or burglars.
On Motzei Shabbos, police responded to a 14th Street area home after the homeowners came home from a weekend vacation to find their home randsacked. Over $100,00 worth of silver and other items were reportedly stolen in the burglary.
But what was particularly disturbing, was the fact that the burglar(s), who made forced entry into the home, ripped out the security cameras in order not to leave a trace of evidence.
Last night, another area resident reported a similar style burglary, in which the burglar(s) ripped out the electric meter, and then made forced entry through a basement window. A safe was ripped out and then broken into, and a large amount of cash and silver was stolen.
About a week ago, another resident in the area had a break in as well, in which the burglar(s) cut electric outside the home, made forced entry through a basemen window, and then ripped out the security camera storage systems.
In that burglary, a Sefer Torah, valuable paintings, jewelry and other items were stolen.
“We are seeing a spike in burglaries,” Police Chief Rob Lawson told TLS, acknowledging that these appeared to be people who knew what they were doing, and when to target the homes.
Last month, the Chief warned the community after two serial burglars were released from prison, though it’s unknown at this time if these crimes are related.
Lakewood Detective Bureau and CSI are investigating the incidents.
[TLS]
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How can they fence a sefer Torah? It would be obvious that it is stolen
So much for high tech security. This is old school/old fashioned from over 30 years ago. It’s more than just cutting. It’s gutting and ripping out the entire security system.
This is terrible
I think we should keep our comments to the coffee room. As I’m worried the burglar/s may visit this site
My two dogs will ALWAYS alert us if someone shouldn’t be in our development. We always look out for our neighbors and always will. Please don’t keep your valuables/cash in your homes. So sorry this happened. My son’s house was broken into a few years ago in Raintree. It’s a creepy feeling knowing a stranger was in your home.
If they didn’t rip out the recorder, the camera images R still there. Unless they tore it out before they went in. Geniuses.
My video cameras are all baled up by wifi. Everything is saved online whether tyne camera is gone or there. . .
First of all it shows that if G-d wants it to happen no alarm system will help. That said there are systems with battery backup that sync to off-site servers that it won’t help to rip out. They don’t even cost much more.
See something…say something. Tell the police. Tell lcsw. Tell ur brother….dont keep suspicious activity secret. Theres been more than just these burgs….close to a million has been taken so far in goods and cash i bet.
JOAT is right. The biggest proof is that The Chief’s own house was burglarized this summer. In broad daylight. The threat of burglary is always present. And that’s only one of the reasons I don’t keep $100,000 of valuables in my home. Can u guess the other, main reason ?
This story is underestimating what really happen there were a lot more robberys and prob over 1,000,000 is cash/valuables stolen
This is starting to look like an inside job. 7 burglaries in the neighborhood so far, six of them daven in the same shul , 4 of them connected to the jewelry, diamond business. Can’t figure out why the police aren’t patrolling the neighborhood
the burglars just happened to pick a house in Lakewood where there is a safe in a basement with a large amount of cash and other valuables
improperly installed security system as. way to go is cameras are backed up on wifi immediately. alarm goes out on radio bradcast with battery back up. monitoring is actually cheaper than old ways.
If they go to where all the cameras are attached to, to the dvr, or whatever system and rip apart the wires there, you are not safe at all. Unless you have a high tech system where each camera is wireless and connected to an off site server without any connections on location, everything can just be pulled apart.
Any system is only as good as it’s weakest point. Having a system makes your home less attractive to a burglar UNLESS he has reason to believe it’s worth the effort. A lock box that houses the recorder plus a UPS is a good start. Wireless has it’s own issues so it is limited. Wired IP is the best bet. The UPS can also power the cameras. If you regularly possess large $ of valuables, don’t rely on do yourself kit from Walmart.
@14thstreeter you need to look at your window more often. That whole area of town has been swarmed with police guys
There was an lcsw truck in Westgate in shabbos. Two African American men were looking into cars to make sure they were locked. If they saw they weren’t, they opened the doors and locked them. Then they placed letters on the windshield. They said that all items should be taken out of cars such as GPS etc and car should be locked up as there are a lot of burglaries.