Police to address rash of bicycle-related East Falls burglaries on Monday night

Burglars are breaking into homes and garages in East Falls and taking bicycles.

Since the beginning of the month, four properties were entered in the hillside neighborhoods resulting in a loss of seven road and mountain bikes.

The biggest loss occurred last Wednesday, when a daytime burglary on the 3300 block of Creswell St. resulted in three bicycles and assorted electronics, valued at $5,680, being taken.

According to police reports, the burglar used a ladder outside the residence to cut open the screen window on a second-floor bathroom window.

A recent problem

This potential pattern began in the early morning hours of Aug. 3, when someone clipped the lock on a 15-speed mountain bike secured on a porch on the 3300 block of Tilden St.

Within a week, a black Trek road bike was taken from a garage on the 3800 block of The Oak Road. When the complainant returned home that day, he saw that the $600 bicycle was gone and the lock cut off. No signs of forcible entry were reported.

Last Tuesday, thieves entered a detached garage behind a home on the 3400 block of Midvale Ave. and removed two bicycles for a total of $1,250.

A possible crime of opportunity, the complainant said that the garage door is secured by a coded electronic lock mechanism, but the door may have been left open.

Meeting tonight

To find out what steps police are taking and what can be done to secure bicycles, the monthly Police Service Area meeting for East Falls and Southwest Germantown is occurring at 8 p.m. at the East Falls Town Watch headquarters at 3540 Indian Queen Lane.