20 Burglaries in 26 Days

Haddonfield was hit with 20 burglaries, two thefts and a stolen vehicle over 26 days in February, according to police reports.

Most of the burglaries were forced entry, with doors kicked in and windows broken.

One of the most outrageous incidents includes a Toyota Land Cruiser that was swiped while idling in front of a home in the 100 block of Jefferson Ave. on Feb. 17. The woman who owned the SUV saw it pull away and started yelling to the alleged thief to stop, which, surprisingly, he did about 100 feet from the home. He got out and jumped in to a waiting gray SUV and sped away. He was not caught.

Five car burglaries and a home break-in were reported on Feb. 8 and 9. Five of the six incidents occurred on Feb. 8 along the 200 block of streets near Grove Street, including three in the 200 block of Hopkins Avenue.

On Feb. 2, a home in the 600 block of Centre St. had three TVs, two video game systems, a DVD player and cash taken. Every TV in the house was reported stolen. The incident was reported by a person walking their dog at 10:15 a.m. who noticed the door of the home was wide open.

Other incidents include:

• Forced-entry burglary in 300 block of Spruce St. on Feb. 24; computer and cash missing
• Forced-entry burglary in the 400 block of Loucroft Road on Feb. 27; an ID reported missing
• Burglary of a shed in the 100 block of Hopkins Ave. on Feb. 19; power washer missing
• Theft of 10-foot section of cooper downspout  on Feb. 4 in the 500 block of Warwick Road
• Burglary in the 100 block of Upland Way on Feb. 4
• Forced-entry burglary attempt in the unit block of E. Redman Ave. on Feb. 14
• Burglary in the 600 block of Grove St. on Feb. 11
• Two businesses burglarized in the 500 block of N. Haddon Ave. , reported on Feb. 10; laptop, iPod, stereo equipment and cash reported missing
• Forced-entry burglary on Feb. 6 in the 400 block of Station Ave.
• Forced-entry burglary in the 100 block of Tavistock Lane on Feb. 6

Police Chief John Banning recently assured a resident in a public meeting that the recent rash of burglaries are a "top priority." Commissioner Ed Borden, who oversees the police department for the three-member Board of Commissioners, said police have increased patrols during daylight hours.

The latest state crime figures, released at the end of last year, reported a 250-percent increase in burglaries in Haddonfield in 2010. The 20 burglaries in February almost equals the 21 recorded in all of 2009 and is nearly a quarter of the 71 reported in all of 2010.