A string of residential burglaries and attempted burglaries that occurred between July 4 and July 16, including three that occurred on the same day, is under investigation by the Hopewell Township Police Department.
To prevent burglaries, police are urging residents to lock their doors and windows even when they are home, and to turn on their home’s security system whenever they leave the house, even if it is for a short time.
The rash of burglaries began July 4 when a Wyckoff Drive resident told police his home had been burglarized while the family was on vacation. The family was alerted to the break-in by their surveillance system, which showed two men entering the house through an unlocked second-story window, police said.
The men, who were wearing masks and gloves, fled with an undetermined amount of jewelry when they realized there was a surveillance camera in the house.
On July 9, a Dublin Road resident reported that two men had attempted to enter the house. The men fled after the resident confronted them. The men left the area in a small silver or gray car.
The first of three burglaries and attempted burglaries on July 16 was reported at noon when a Maddock Road resident returned home and found that someone had entered the house by forcing open a garage door.
Later in the day, a New Road resident called police after confronting a man in the driveway who had apparently burglarized the house. The man fled in a white van.
Hopewell Township police officers saw the white van on Bear Tavern Road and tried unsuccessfully to stop the driver on Interstate 295. The van continued into Lawrence Township and was later recovered by Lawrence police officers.
Also on July 16, a Poor Farm Road resident returned home at 6:30 p.m. to find that a rock had been thrown through the front door. The house had been ransacked.
Hopewell Township police are asking residents to call 911 immediately if they see a suspicious vehicle or person in their neighborhood. Police are asking for help in solving the burglaries. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Joseph Maccaquano at 609-737-3100.
