Community Advisory
The Newton Police Department is advising our residents that beginning last month, through this past Sunday, there were in total 5 residential housebreaks in the city. During the investigation into those housebreaks, important commonalities became apparent to our detectives…all break ins occurred during the daytime, on a weekend, with no one home, and with all victims being of Asian descent.
The dates and locations of those 5 housebreaks are as follows:
- 6/13/21 – 900 block of Walnut Street
- 6/19/21 – 600 block of Dedham Street
- 6/20/21 – Helene Road
- 6/27/21 – 700 block of Quinobequin Road
- 7/10/21 – Country Club Road
All breaks into the above homes involved forced entry, with jewelry, cash, and handbags, being the primary target of the suspect(s).
Starting with the break in on June 13, the Newton police have been actively and thoroughly investing these breaks, including canvassing each neighborhood by knocking on doors and speaking with residents, adding directed patrols (approximately 80 to date), and working with law enforcement partners throughout the area, all in an effort to apprehend the suspect(s).The detectives are actively seeking to learn if Asians are being specifically targeted but do not have any definitive information yet. The Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan’s Office has been notified.
The Newton Police Department reminds everyone when leaving home to make sure to lock all doors and windows. If you plan on leaving home for vacation or an extended period of time, go to the NPD website to report a closed house in excess of 5 days
newtonpolice.com/N_closed_home_2.asp. Tell a trusted neighbor or family member to check your home periodically. Do not indicate on social media that you will be away from home. Make sure shrubbery does not hide any windows. Use a timer to turn off/on inside lights and have motion detector lights outside the home. Stop all mail and newspaper deliveries. Please be aware of unusual behaviors of people in your neighborhood and call the NPD at 617-796-2100; see something, say something. Feel free to contact our department’s Community Services Bureau for additional assistance at 617-796-2103.
Earlier this year, the city experienced two sets of a series of breaks, the first being on March 15 and the second being on April 9th. Those breaks did not indicate that anyone was specifically targeted and investigations led to the arrest of 3 men. In total, Newton has had 45 house breaks so far in 2021.
At the time of the breaks on Dedham Street and Helene Road, images from video surveillance shows the same person pictured below at each location.
If anyone has information on this person, you are urged to call the Newton Police Department Detective Bureau at 617-796-2104 or use our anonymous Tips-line at 617-796-2121.