Purchase this image
G rinch or Grinches strike four area homes before holiday
It’s more “bah humbug” than “ho ho ho” this holiday season for some area families, who were victims of a rash of daytime burglaries early last week.
State Police sources said at least four Washington County homes, all in the Granville area, were burglarized on Dec. 9.
Of the four burglaries, two took place in Granville, one on Lee Road and one on Route 40 in North Granville Hartford area; with the other two taking place in Hampton, one on Hickey Road and the other on Route 18 near the Milestone Golf Course.
One victimized family on Hickey Road, whose names are being withheld for reasons of anonymity, lost some of their Christmas presents as well as several home electronics to the thieves.
One of the family’s members said the thieves took mostly electronics from the home they had lived in for less than a year, including a new big screen TV, a video camera, a computer, a child’s jewelry box and Christmas presents.
Some of the presents were first unwrapped and inspected; not all of the presents were taken, he said.
“They went through what was under the tree and unwrapped those, the others were just in bags – they just took the expensive stuff,” he said.
The man said he could not estimate how long the intruders were in his home, but they had time to go through the master bedroom as well as going through the gifts and remove all of the items.
The man said it appeared the burglar or burglars did not force their way in but were perhaps able to somehow pick the lock. They did not go around the house looking for a way in he said, but went straight for the door. The only tracks in the fresh snow were from the propane delivery man, he said.
Other targets included a residence on Route 149 in Granville, County Route 18 in Hampton and a Route 40 residence in North Granville.
Police, who are continuing to investigate the burglaries, urged all area residents to remain vigilant in wake of the burglaries, and to keep an eye out for strange traffic near their homes
“Be very cognizant of your neighborhood and your neighbors,” State Police spokesperson Maureen Tuffey said Thursday.
Tuffey said residents were being advised to keep an eye out for unusual vehicle traffic in their neighborhood.
“Try to get plate numbers and when in doubt, make a call,” Tuffey said.
Should anyone has any information on the burglaries, they are urged to contact the State Police at 583-7000.
Comments
Read more in this week's Sentinel in newsstands now or click here to read right now with our e-edition.
