BY JENNIFER McDOWELL

The Pembroke Police Department is asking for help from the community to solve a recent breakout of burglaries on the west side of town, most on side streets surrounding Daniel Webster Highway.

Chief Scott Lane said it appears the burglaries are connected, given their concentration in one general area, the similarities in stolen items and means of entry into the homes.

“We usually have something between a dozen and two dozen residential burglaries a year,” Lane said. Since Oct. 1, Pembroke residents have reported six burglaries to police.

In the most recent break-in at a home on Melissa Drive on Monday, Nov. 5, the burglars took a video game system, CDs and DVDs. In another on Berry Brook Lane on  Wednesday, Oct. 31, two laptops, two cameras and a game system were taken, Lane said.

Just a short time later the same day, the Concord Police Department took a report of a burglary, which Det. Todd Flanagan of the Concord Police confirmed.

Police are currently looking into sightings of a dark green Mazda or Honda seen in the vicinity of several of the crimes, including Concord, Lane said.

Concord is a 10- to 15-minute drive up Daniel Webster Highway from the general area of the Pembroke burglaries.

Similar items were taken during burglaries earlier this month on Pembroke Hill Road and Dudley Hill. Two television sets were taken from a home on Cross Country Road, Lane said.

Other items taken from the homes include jewelry and coins. Lane estimated the total value of all the stolen items at about $15,000.

Two of the burglaries occurred on Pembroke Hill Road, one on Oct. 1 – the same day as the Dudley Hill break in–and the other on Oct. 15.

The crimes occurred between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Lane said, which is typical for such burglaries.

Perpetrators can gain easy access into homes while the owners are at work and any children who may live in the house are at school.

“It’s an opportune time for them to commit these crimes,” Lane said.

These appear to be crimes of opportunity, said Lane, adding that the burglars are most likely drug abusers.

“Your typical daytime residential burglar is a drug addict. It’s as simple as finding an area that looks good for them,” he said. “They can be in and out of your house in less than five minutes.”

In all of the burglaries, Lane said, entry was forced. The location and method of entry, which is being kept confidential, is consistent across the board, leading police to believe the crimes are connected.

Reports of suspicious males in their late teens and early twenties in the area of the crimes have come in to police.

Lane said police are interested in a few people, but have not attained any hard evidence to detain them for questioning and cannot release further details about the case.

“It’s really important that people call us if they see something that looks out of the ordinary,” said Lane, such as suspicious vehicles or people in the area.

He pointed out that residents should particularly be on the look out for the green vehicle and also for teenagers walking around in the daytime, as they should be in school.

In many cases, Lane said, people looking to break into a house will knock on the door to make sure that no one is home. If someone answers, they will make up an excuse as to why they are there.

He asked for anyone who has experienced something like that to call the police immediately.

Pembroke residents should call the police at 485-9173 to report any suspicious activity or to  provide police with information.