Tredyffrin Police Investigate Multiple Burglaries, Urge Public Vigilance

Tredyffrin Police are investigating a rash of commercial and residential burglaries in the township.

While many municipalities are seeing an uptick in burglaries, Tredyffrin has been hit especially hard, Sgt. Todd Bereda, of the TTPD Detectives Unit, said.
There have been 30 burglaries in Tredyffrin Township in 2013, up from 18 the same time last year.

"The greatest amount in any time period was five overnight June 14 to 15, wherein we had the Route 30 and 252 corridors hit with commercial strip-mall-style burglaries," Bereda said. "[The burglars would] force the rear door with a pry bar, or blunt-force smash the front door of dry cleaners and hair salons."

Business owners should make sure exterior lights are left on at their businesses, and consider leaving interior lights on, too, Bereda said. If store policy is to empty the register each night, they should also consider leaving the empty cash drawer in plain sight as a deterrent. 

Police are asking residents to keep a watchful eye for anything that seems out of the ordinary or suspicious, and immediately report it to police. License plates, vehicle descriptions, physical descriptions of people, and even the direction of a vehicle's travel can be useful information, according to Bereda—and don't worry about bothering the police.

"It's not a bother. Call us. It might stop next crime from happening," Bereda said.

Recent burglaries have been reported at:

• 300-400 blocks of West Swedesford Road in Berwyn (commercial—June 15) 
• 700 block of Lancaster Avenue in Strafford  (commercial—June 15)
• 1500 block of Lancaster Avenue in Paoli (attempted, commercial—June 15)
• 1400 block of Lancaster Avenue (residential—June 17)
• 600 block of Kennedy Road in Wayne (residential—June 18)
• 400 block of Woodcrest Road in Wayne (residential construction site—June 18)