Smithfield Police Investigating July 3 Break-Ins On Whipple, Stillwater Roads

Smithfield Police are investigating three July 3 burglaries of homes on Whipple and Stillwater Road with about $700 in tools stolen from one and $40,000 in jewelry from another. 

At about 11:02 a.m., Patrolman Joseph Marcello was called to Whipple Road for a report of a break-in. The homeowner explained he'd recently bought the place and was doing work to renovate the interior. He said he'd left the house on July 2 at about 7 p.m. returned July 3 at about 10:45 a.m. to find two narrow kitchen windows open, and a number of his power tools missing. It appeared one of the windows had been pried open, and there were 

A number of power tools, including a Ryobi drill, Ryobi 18 volt electrical saw, black 40-inch RCA TV, chargers, batteries and an Iphone stereo, totaled at about $739, were missing. 

Marcello responded to a second Whipple Road address, where it appeared someone had pried open a door to get in, about $40 in jewelry was missing. That resident said she'd left her house at about 9:30 a.m. that morning, returning to discover the break-in at noon that day.

On Stillwater Road, Marcello spoke with a woman who reported someone had entered her home through a back sliding glass door, stealing several items of jewelry while she was gone sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. About $40,000 worth of jewelry was stolen, including a one-carat emerald shape diamond ring on a white gold setting worth $7,000, a gold ring with a blue pyramid shaped center stone worth $10,000 and a 14-karat gold pocket watch with the initials "CT" engraved on the inside worth $10,000.

Smithfield Police are continuing to investigate the burglaries.

Det. Captain Michael Rheaume said homeowners should take precautions if they are going on vacation or plan to be leaving their homes for any length of time. He suggested having someone check on your home regularly and recommended using lighting timers to make your home appear occupied during an absence.