CAMBRIDGE, Md. – There’s been a noticeable jump in car thefts and break-ins around Cambridge this month, and police are asking folks to take some easy precautions to stay safe.
Incidents have been reported from several neighborhoods on the East Side, like Deep Harbor, Byrn Street, Meteor Avenue, Crusader Road, Rambler Road and Roslyn Avenue. Officers say this kind of spike usually happens as the weather warms up.
Justin Todd, the Cambridge Police Chief, says these crimes tend to follow certain patterns.
“This year, several arrests with juveniles breaking in vehicles, doesn’t mean it’s always a juvenile breaking in a vehicle,” Todd said. “But certainly that’s where it seems to…it’s usually the younger generation that’s doing it this time of year. So… when a person is to call in, to give whatever descriptors they can, what they’re wearing, what direction they’re traveling in…our patrol officers know which way to head and what direction to go in and what they’re looking for.”
Those little details really help more than you might guess. Chief Todd explains that even if they don’t catch someone right away, good descriptions make a big difference.
“If we’re not able to catch them right away, if you give us a good clothing description and something, we can come back, look at our surveillance cameras that we have throughout parts of the city and be able to track them down that way,” Todd said. “Then [we] work on obtaining their whereabouts, where they live and what type of, where they may be employed.”
Todd also wants people to know the police aren’t just reacting-they’re trying hard to get ahead of these crimes.
“We patrol with what we call patrolling with purpose here at CPD, certain areas of the city where there’s crime that’s higher than others,” Todd said. “We make sure every certain amount of time, there’s a police car in that area patrolling at least 15 minutes. And that’s our goal to help continue to reduce crime in our city.”
Meanwhile, police remind everyone of some simple tips-always lock your car doors; park somewhere well-lit if you can; and don’t leave valuables out where people can see them inside your vehicle.
If you notice anything odd or suspicious around your neighborhood or parking spot, Chief Todd says don’t hesitate-reach out right away. You can find his email on the Cambridge Police Department website or call 410-228-3333 for the 911 center directly where an officer will be sent out.
