The police chief advises residents to keep their doors and windows locked, and to report suspicious activity immediately.
PALMER – Police are investigating a break-in at the Palmer Restaurant on Main Street that was reported early Thursday morning.
Someone forced open the back door of the downtown restaurant and stole cash. State police crime scene services also were called to investigate and to see if any evidence could be recovered at the scene, according to Police Chief Robert P. Frydryk.
Frydryk said break-ins are up compared to last year, and advises residents to make sure their doors and windows are locked.
“We recommend security systems if they can afford them. Neighbors should also be conscious of suspicious vehicles in the area and report them,” Frydryk said.
He said residents sometimes say that they do not want to bother police by calling about perceived suspicious activity. But Frydryk said residents should always call if they suspect something amiss in their neighborhood.
There have been approximately 30 break-ins to residences and businesses since the start of the year, as well as approximately 25 break-ins to motor vehicles, according to Police Department data.
The break-ins have been reported all over town, in all the villages. In March, thieves stole copper from the National Grid substation on Blanchard Street.
Streets hit include Mason; Springfield, High and Main streets in Three Rivers; Crawford and Second in Bondsville, Riverview Parkway, Overlook Drive, Rondeau Road, Cross, Rockview, Wilbraham, South Main, Harvey and High in Thorndike, Boston Road, Fox, Lawrence, Ware, and Breckenridge.
Items taken range from jewelry and cash, to a girl’s piggy bank, a Sony Playstation and tools. In one incident this month, a woman was asleep when someone broke into the house and stole a GPS and camera. Also this month, someone stole laptop computers and a flat screen television from an unlocked house.
In addition to Palmer Restaurant, businesses that have been broken into since the start of the year include Steaming Tender, Tenczar’s Food Town and Cement Well Concrete Products in Three Rivers.