West Roxbury Resident Had WWII Purple Heart Stolen from Home

October 21, 2009

In a rash of recent day time home breaks several residents have been the victim’s of burglars entering thier homes and stealing valuables. In one case a resident’s WWII Purple Heart was stolen. Is nothing sacred.

Boston Police are investigating several residential thefts in West Roxbury that occurred in close proximity. Items such as jewelry and electronic devices have been stolen. District E-5 (West Roxbury) has contacted its community partners in an effort to address these incidents. Detectives and patrol officers have canvassed the affected area and are asking for the community’s help. District E-5 has increased patrols to the area.

Incident Descriptions:

On October 19, 2009 between 8:45am and 10:15am, a residence on Woodley Ave. was broken into via a rear window. Various items were removed including gold jewelry. A witness reported seeing three suspects, approx. all 17-20 year old black males coming out of the front door; one suspect was carrying a back pack.

On October 19, 2009, between the hours of 9:45am and 1:15pm, a residence on Desoto Rd. was broken into via a basement door. Computer equipment, jewelry and Xbox were reported stolen from the residence.

On October 19, 2209, between 6:00am and 6:30pm, a residence on Edgemere Rd. was burglarized and it appears the suspect(s) gained entry by removing an A/C unit from the window. The victim reported numerous items missing such as a WW2 Purple Heart medal, gold coins, and various jewelry.

On October 14, 2009 between the hours of 8:45am and 6:30pm, a residence on Ridgecrest Terrace was burglarized. Entry may have been made through a second floor window. Victim reports that jewelry and cash was taken.

Contact Information:

The Boston Police is asking that the public contact 911 if they observe any suspicious vehicles or persons.

The Boston Police Department is actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding these incidents. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Detectives at Area E-5 (West Roxbury/Roslindale) at 617-343-4566.

Community members who wish to remain anonymous should either call the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1-800-494-TIPS (8477) or text the word TIP to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department will stringently protect the identity of those who wish to remain anonymous.

Boston Police would like to take this opportunity to remind residents to keep the following safety tips in mind.

Safety Tips:

Keep your doors locked at all times, especially when you are alone, sleeping, or the residence is unoccupied (even if only for a few moments).
If you return home and something looks questionable (e.g. a slit screen, broken window, or open door) do not go inside. Call 911 from a safe location.
Be sure you have blinds or curtains on your windows to discourage people from looking into your home. Always keep your windows covered at night and leave lights on in a few rooms.
Keep an updated inventory of your valuables by writing down serial numbers and a description of each item. If possible, photographs or video should be taken of all valuables. Keep this information in a safe place.
Place items of value out of sight and in locked areas. Do not leave valuables unattended in such common areas as living rooms and lounges.
Be sure all outdoor lighting fixtures are in working condition. If they are not, ask your landlord to make immediate repairs.
Turn outdoor lights on from dusk to dawn to make your property more visible. All entrances should be well lit.
Trim and maintain shrubbery on your property.
Collect your mail daily. Remove newspapers, advertisements, and trash promptly. Litter implies that the occupant is out of town.
Don’t display packaging of expensive new items in your trash.
Never hide spare house keys outside of your home or loan them to maintenance workers.
Know your neighbors. Start a crime watch and make sure you can easily contact neighbors when you need to. While away, arrange for mail/newspaper pickup, snow removal, or grass mowing.