Police Warn of Increase in Burglaries

Police are warning New Milford residents about an increase in burglaries in the borough during the last month, police said. 

Burglars hit three homes and one commercial business since Dec. 1st, Chief Frank Papapietro said. 

Several burglaries have also recently been reported throughout Bergen County, including Fair Lawn, Tenafly, Demarest, Englewood, Leonia and Fort Lee.

Papapietro asks that everyone be extra vigilant and report any strange vehicles or activity to the police. He also advises residents to take the following precautions:

• Make sure that your residence and vehicles are locked and the alarms are set. It may sound simple, but many people have a false sense of security and will leave doors unlocked and valuables in plain sight, the chief said. 
• Keep lights on timers and stagger their operation throughout various rooms.
• Do not advertise your movements on Facebook or other social networks. Burglars regularly monitor these sites to determine when a residence may be unoccupied or to locate a victim who may be carrying cash. 
• If you find your home has been burglarized, do not enter the home. Call the police immediately. Many times, the first instinct is to enter and check for pets or missing items. Entering the home before the police could compromise valuable evidence and, more importantly, the burglars could still be inside.

Report any suspicious activity to the New Milford Police Department at 201-261-1400 or call 9-1-1 if you observe a crime in progress.