Rash Of Home Burglaries Reported On Main Line: What To Know

BRYN MAWR, PA — Three home burglaries have been reported in recent days, and they all share simliar aspects, according to Lower Merion Township Commissioner V. Scott Zelov.

Zelov, in a letter to the community, said homes on the 800 block of Roscommon Road, 800 block of Gatemore Road, and 600 block of Black Rock Road were hit by burglars who authorities said are part of a South American theft ring.

The homes on Rocommon and Gatemore roads were broken into sometime over the weekend, with the burglaries being discovered Saturday evening.

According to Zelov, a neighbor on the 800 block of Roscommon Road in Bryn Mawr heard an alarm activate next door at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

The neighbor say saw three subjects flee the home before getting into a dark-colored SUV.

He said the suspects stacked patio furniture outside the home to gain access to the second story. Then, they broke a window to get into the home.

Luckily, nothing was reported missing in the home.

Also that night, homeowners on the 800 block of Gatemore Road in Bryn Mawr came home to find heavy ransacking on their home's second floor.

Just like the Roscommon Road incident, patio furniture was used to get to a second-floor window, which was broken to allow access into the home.

Zelov said the home's security system was not activated at the time of the burglary

And last week, a home on the 600 block of Black Rock Road in Bryn Mawr was burglarized by someone who used a chair to get a second floor window, which again was broken.

The primary bedroom was ransacked, and jewelry was targeted, Zelov said.

That house has been vacant for three years, he said, but it was not on the vacant house list.

Residents can expect to see increased police presence around the township after these recent break-ins, he said.

Additionally, resident who are planning to be away from their homes are encouraged to use the Lower Merion Police Department's Vacant House Program. By signing up for the program, police will conduct security checks at homes while the residents are away for 48 hours or more.

Learn more about the Vacant House Program online here.