Tredyffrin Police Warn of Increases in Crime

Tredyffrin Township Police are warning the public about an increase in two "crimes of opportunity" and urging residents to take precautions.

Tredyffrin Police Superintendent Anthony Giaimo told the township's Board of Supervisors Monday that his department is seeing "upticks" in  both the number of vehicles that are bing broken into and the number of "pickpocketing events" being reported to police.

Thefts from Vehicles

In recent weeks there have been several reports of items being stolen from vehicles, mostly in the late evening and overnight hours. Giaimo says in virtually every case the vehicles have been left unlocked.

The police chief's message to the public is basic, but it can make all the difference when it comes to these crimes of opportunity. "Make sure your vehicles are secured," Giaimo advised the public during Monday night's meeting.

That message is the same for Easttown residents where police have also had reports of thefts from vehicles.

Both police departments say the thieves are simply looking for easy targets and remembering to remove valuables and lock car doors, especially at night and in your own driveway is one of the easiest, and most effective ways to prevent your car from being a target.

Teams of Pickpockets working Tredyffrin

The other crime trend Giaimo is warning the public about involves an apparent team of pickpockets.  He says there has been an "uptick in pickpocketing events at supermarkets and shopping centers."

Last week Patch reported on two separate pickpocket cases. I The second incident was

Giaimo says police believe there is a team of pickpockets working in the area looking for opportunities to strike.

The Tredyffrin Police Chief says raising awareness of the crime is important, as is protecting valuables and being careful about purses from thieves. Giaimo is reminding women not to leave purses hanging unwatched on the backs of chairs in restaurants or to leave their purses unattended in shopping carts while you look at items for sale in a grocery or other store.