While gold jewelry is the preferred item to steal, the Monson police chief said thieves also will take silver jewelry or silver utensils.
Monson Police Chief Stephen Kozloski Jr., left, seen with his counterpart in Palmer, Robert P. Frydryk.Police chiefs in Monson and Palmer say recent house breaks in their towns are crimes of opportunity, often fueled by addicts looking for gold jewelry to resell at a high price so they can buy drugs.
Monson Police Chief Stephen Kozloski Jr. had six arrests last week on break-in charges; four individuals were charged with breaking into homes while two were charged with breaking into cars.
Of the six people arrested, four also were charged with heroin possession, and two were out on bail in connection with drug charges from recent arrests in Holyoke.
He said the combination of the price of gold rising and price of heroin falling is the factor behind many of these break-ins.
The thieves take advantage of open windows at homes, and in one instance, pushed in an air conditioner to get inside a residence, Kozloski said.
While gold jewelry is the preferred item to steal, he said thieves also will take silver jewelry or silver utensils.
Kozloski advises residents to shut their windows, lock their doors and get an alarm system.
Tylor Z. Young, 20, who was arrested by Monson police for breaking into a Flynt Avenue home, was awaiting trial on a separate case from Palmer.
In June, Young was charged with receiving stolen property after he was allegedly found with a stolen handgun, ammunition and a safe reportedly taken from a Three Rivers Road home in Palmer's Three Rivers section.
Young and Amanda Charron were arrested after police searched their 49 Washington St. home in Monson and recovered several pieces of jewelry taken from the Flynt Avenue home.
At their Palmer District Court arraignments on Friday, Young was held on $5,000 bail and will return to court on Oct. 2 for a pretrial conference. Charron was released after $250 bail was posted and she will return to court on Oct. 12 for a pretrial conference.
Two Wilbraham men, Thomas R. Taylor, of 384 Stony Hill Road, and Dylan Gray, of 3 Burt Lane, both 22, were arrested in connection with house breaks on Butler, Reimers and Thayer roads, and on Silver Street. They were both out on bail from arrests on drug charges that occurred in Holyoke on Sept. 6.
And two 24-year-old Palmer residents, Jeremy P. Richard, of 1063 Pleasant St., and Amanda J. Kingston, of 23 Robinson Road, were charged by Monson police with heroin possession and breaking and entering after they were seen bicycling through neighborhoods where recent car break-ins occurred. Found on them were credit cards and jewelry believed to be stolen.
Monson police linked the duo to a house break on Allen Street in Palmer, and a vehicle break on Foster Street in Palmer.
In Palmer, Police Chief Robert P. Frydryk said there have been approximately 17 break-ins reported this past summer, which includes residences and sheds. He said thieves are looking for items they can turn in for quick cash, either by selling them to pawn shops or on the street.
Frydryk advises residents to report anything suspicious to police. The break-ins have happened all over town, and the number is "about average for us."
Though residents often tell police "we didn't want to bother you," Frydryk said, "Please bother us."
A phone call regarding suspicious activity means that the department can possibly prevent a crime from happening, he said.