Police Warn Community to Watch Out for Growing Number of Burglaries

Claremont Police are warning residents about a string of burglaries that have struck the city that at least in one case, involved the would-be thief knocking aggressively on a front door.

According to Claremont officials, the burglaries have taken place between Dec. 5 and 11.  Five residential burglaries occurred in the northeast area of Claremont north of Baseline Road, officials said.  The crimes occurred between 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Burglar’s entered the homes through rear sliding glass doors.  In some cases, they smashed the glass to gain entry, police officials said.   

During the Dec. 10 burglary, in the 400 block of Holyoke Place, the resident was home and heard “aggressive knocking on the front door,” officers said.

As the resident walked to answer, police said he heard glass breaking at the back of the home.  When the resident checked on the noise, he found himself confronted with a suspect trying to enter through the broken rear sliding glass door. The intruder ran off and was last seen running southbound on Mills Avenue from Holyoke, officials said.

The burglar was described as male black, with short hair, about 25-years-old, 5-foot-8 with a stocky build.  He wore a blue nylon jacket and dark pants.

The Dec. 11 robbery happened in the 2100 block of Forbes Avenue. Officials said witnesses spotted a suspicious vehicle parked a short distance away.  The vehicle was an older model convertible with a tan top.  A male subject with a dark complexion was in the car, officials said.

Police ask anyone with information on the burglaries to call the Claremont Police Department at (909) 399-5411.