NEWBURYPORT — Police chiefs in Newburyport and Merrimac are asking residents to report any strange activity as soon as they see it, as police in both communities are responding to an uptick in breaking-and-entering incidents over the last month.
Newburyport city Marshal Thomas Howard said yesterday safes containing cash were stolen from two downtown businesses, The Purple Onion on Inn Street and Fowle's on State Street, within a few hours of each other on the Fourth of July.
In both cases, the safes were removed from the businesses during the later daylight hours and it is perceivable the responsible parties might have been spotted by passers-by on Inn Street or State Street.
Newburyport police declined to reveal the amount of money stolen from the two businesses.
"If you see something, say something," Howard said, referring to the department's new crime tip campaign started earlier this year.
Days later, an attempted break-in was reported at Haley's Ice Cream off Route 1. According to Howard and Haley's Ice Cream owner Michael Roy, it appears the suspect was scared off by the store's alarm system and fled without taking anything.
"We have not seen this number in quite a while," Howard said, referring to the frequency of break-ins at commercial establishments.
Over in Merrimac, police Chief Eric Shears said there have been at least five break-in attempts, some successful, since June 27. The latest incident took place July 15 and involved the theft of a laptop computer from the Common Grounds Coffee Shop on East Main Street.
Three days earlier, police were called to a River Road house after a resident watched as a woman climbed through an open back window and tried to gain entry into her house. When the woman saw the resident approach her, she climbed back outside and ran to a parked car. By the time the resident got outside, the woman had fled in her car.
"Really what we're looking for is for residents to report any suspicious activity immediately," Shears said.
Shears said it's human nature to delay calling the police when they aren't sure what they're witnessing. But with every second critical in terms of catching those responsible, Shears is imploring residents to resist that urge.
"Certainly, they shouldn't be afraid to call," Shears said.
The recent surge in building breaks started on June 27, when at least one youth broke into the Little League snack shack on Union Street and made off with chocolate bars, gum, chips and drinks.
Other incidents include the theft of a log splitter engine on Battis Road on July 6, and the July 11 attempted break-in at the Merrimac Country Market on East Main Street.
In that incident, Shears said someone smashed the front door but ran away before getting the chance to steal anything.
"We were there within 20 seconds," Shears said.
Shears added his department is close to solving at least some of the breaking-and-entering incidents and is coordinating efforts with other communities that are also experiencing an elevated level of break-ins over the summer.
"We're working diligently on them and we have some leads," Shears said.
Those going on vacation are urged to take advantage of the department's house watch program. Residents can visit the station and fill out an application to trigger daily checks of their homes until they return, according to Shears. For more information, call the Merrimac Police Department at 978-346-8321.
Those wishing to report a crime in Newburyport is encouraged to call the Newburyport Police Department at 978-462-4411.
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