Bernards Police to Hold Burglary Prevention Talk After Two More Break-Ins

Following two more break-ins last weekend in Bernards Township, which took place in The Hills section on Saturday, Bernards Township police are inviting residents to attend an information session next Monday to discuss residential burglaries, and to provide crime prevention advice.

The meeting is scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. on Monday in the Warren Craft Meeting Room of town hall at 1 Collyer Lane in Basking Ridge, near police headquarters.

Members of the Police Department will be on hand to discuss residential burglaries that have been reported, as well as giving advice, according to information from the police department.

Two break-ins in The Hills 

Police are investigating two residential burglaries that reportedly occurred in the same vicinity between 2 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. on Jan. 18.  

Police said home on Huntington Road was burglarized when one or more burglars forced entry through a rear door and stole gold and silver jewelry. No value is available at this time, police said this week.

A nearby home on Savannah Court also was burglarized, police said. Entry was forced through a rear door, and one or more burglars stole gold and silver jewelry, according to police. No value was available as of Tuesday.

Due to the proximity in time and location, police said the burglaries are considered to be related. 

According to police, those cases may also be related to residential burglaries that have occurred in the area, mainly on weekends over the past ten months.

On Sunday, last Nov. 13, at at 9 p.m., on Allegheny Drive, a burglar was scared off by the homeowner while entering a house through an unlocked rear window.

On Saturday, Nov. 2, a burglar forced entry into a rear window on Princeton Court and stole jewelry and cash between 6 to 9:30 p.m., according to an earlier police report.

On Sunday, Sept. 22, between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Hamilton Drive, burglars forced entry to a rear door and stole jewelry and purses, police said.

On Thursday, Aug. 22, between 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Sentinel Drive, a burglar or burglaries forced entry to a rear door and stole electronics and purses, police said.

On April 20, 2012, on Watchung Drive, someone forced entry to a rear door and stole jewelry and cash between 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. that day, police said. 

Anyone with information is requested to contact the Bernards Township police Detective Bureau at 908-766-1122.  

Police said they urge residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. "Our residents are often our best resources in deterring and solving burglaries," police said in a release announcing the information session.

Police issued some crime prevention tips in the release. 

In each of the recent burglaries the homes appeared to be unoccupied.  Police said that among the efforts residents can take to be less likely to become a victim of burglary or theft. 

§  Always lock your residence at all times. Thieves will often target unlocked residences.

§  Utilize motion lights on the exterior of your home.

§  When on vacation, stop newspaper and mail delivery. Newspapers in the driveway or anoverflowing mailbox suggest no one is home.

§  Put lights and televisions on timers or delay switch when not home.

§  Keep the grass cut when away for extended periods of time.

§  Keep detailed records and inventory of all valuable possessions. Have photos available of items like jewelry and antiques. Keep records of manufacturers, model, and serial numbers for valuable electronics. 

§  Do not leave empty trash or recycling containers in front of the house for long periods of time.

§  If possible leave a vehicle or vehicles in the driveway.

"Most importantly, if you see anything you believe to be suspicious, call the police Department and ask that the person or situation be looked into," the release said. 

The release urged neighbors to report unusual activity. "The police need our residents to be our eyes and ears," the release said.