We recently told you about the burglar or burglars bold enough to break into a house in Norwood, get chicken salad out of the refrigerator and feed the dog to keep it quiet. The problem is, the burglar has never been caught, and some neighbors say they are getting nervous.
Local 12 News reporter Deborah Dixon shows us the plan police have in place to try to solve the crimes.
Seven burglaries just in the month of January have police on patrol and a task force determined to bring the burglar down. Lt. Tom Williams of Norwood Police says, "We have a plan in place. At least 10 people are investigating, looking for everything to catch this guy. It's ridiculous."
Ridiculous because the bold burglar or burglars breaks in during the day and walks away with a bags full of valuables. Three times there were barking dogs inside the victim's home.
Kicking in a door would seem to attract attention. But it has not been enough to catch the burglar in the act. The thief seems to go for easy to carry items like jewelry and gift cards. "I feel scared when I'm by myself. When we go somewhere I think, should we take it with us? Should we hid it? Maybe not go?"
One victim now has an elaborate alarm system, burglar, panic and cameras that photograph anyone coming to the house. A barking dog used to be considered the way to keep a burglar away. "With a dog if they bring a biscuit it keeps him happy."
Here's the problem for that burglar-when you get a little too arrogant you make mistakes. When you open a refrigerator and get out chicken salad and grab an energy drink like he did, you can leave clues behind and that's whats happened. There are several pieces of evidence at the coroner's lab...that could have his DNA on them.
There is a reward for information about the burglaries. You can call the 24 hour Crimestoppers hotline at 352-3040.
Story originally filed on January 25, 2013
A group of sneaky thieves in Norwood have figured out a way to distract dogs meant to protect homes. The thieves target homes with privacy fences-and barking, four-legged animals are no deterrent.
Local 12 News reporter Adam Clements spoke with one victim on Rose Avenue -- who says the crooks used one of her own recipes to get in and out of her home safely.
Marie Dozier says she was taken for more than $2000 worth of jewelry and electronics last week ... with the crooks hopping her privacy fence and busting through her back door. "It had to take from twenty minutes to at least a half an hour..and they have to be extremely aggressive not to be afraid of that dog once they got up the steps."
She also says the thieves found a clever way around the protector of the house. "They opened up the refrigerator and took my fresh bowl of chicken salad out..walked it into the dining room..set it down and fed the dog and from there they proceeded to clean out the house."
She says her dog is typically aggressive and unwelcoming to strangers, but agrees ... not many pups would turn down a free meal. Dozier just wants her neighbors to be on high alert. "If you see something that doesn't look right, call the police ... it's better safe than sorry."
Police tell us they have leads on suspects but haven't named any as of yet.
