Police Investigating Series Of Burglaries In Ridgewood

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Ridgewood, New Jersey are asking for the public's help in getting to the bottom of a rash of recent home break-ins.

The most recent case, which occurred on Friday, was caught on surveillance camera, 1010 WINS reported.

Police said the suspect first rang the doorbell of a home on Highland Avenue before he smashed a window with a crowbar and triggered the alarm system, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.

And the alarm didn't even scare him off. Detectives said he quickly rummaged through the place and took off with several items.

Investigators said an older model, dark-colored pickup truck with an extended cab was seen circling the block just before the burglary.

"It's very scary; everyone's a little scared," said neighbor Margaret Watson. "Even today, going out to run errands I was a little bit apprehensive because this is around the time there was a break-in yesterday."

There have been six burglaries reported across Ridgewood since Friday, Gold reported.

And neighborhing Glenrock is seeing similar problems with four break-ins in the last two weeks.

Ridgewood Police Capt. Jacqueline Luthcke told 1010 WINS burglaries are not common in the area.

"This is very uncommon for us...We have not had a series of burglaries like this in many, many years," Luthcke said.

One possible common denominator between the burglaries could be the holiday season, Luthcke said.

"The holiday season is a high travel time," she said. "Some of these burglaries that occurred for us were with houses that people were not home for significant lengths of time. So it could be part of it."

Luthcke told Gold it's important that homeowners be aware and take steps to protect themselves.

"You want to make sure that your house always looks like someone's there," she said.

Luthcke said it helps to let your neighbors know when you're leaving too, and ask them for help to make sure you aren't an easy target.

"Have them bring in your paper, bring in your mail, bring in your packages," she said.

The Ridgewood Police Department is investigating whether there is any possible link between the burglaries.

Most of the break-ins happened during the afternoon and early evening, and police said the thieves are after electronics and jewelry.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Ridgewood detectives at 201-251-4537.

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