By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — City residents, particularly in the Oak Hill neighborhood, are being asked to be extra vigilant to suspicious daytime activities. Even more importantly, they are being urged to share those suspicions with Pawtucket Police.

Since November, police in Pawtucket and nearby Providence have seen an increase in the number of daytime housebreaks, particularly in the Oak Hill area of Pawtucket and the Summit section of Providence.
Pawtucket Police Maj. Arthur Martins said that while he wouldn’t categorize it as a crime wave, the number of break-ins that have occurred in those two neighborhoods over the past five months “is concerning to us.” “We’ve noticed a trend. And there seems to be something similar going on in Providence,” he added.
Martins said that, given the nature of the break-ins, usually occurring in the daytime and involving large items such as plasma TVs and computers, police theorize that they are being committed by the same group of individuals. Since many of the stolen items would be difficult to carry off on foot, Martins said it is likely that a vehicle or van is involved.
To that end, police are urging residents to report any strange cars, vans or trucks they see in the neighborhood, or any other types of suspicious activity. The Pawtucket Police can be reached at 727-9100.
“Keep on the lookout for trucks or cars in your neighbors’ driveway that don’t belong--don’t just assume they are contractors or someone making a delivery. It is better for us to confirm that things are okay than for a housebreak to occur,” said Martins. “Or, if you see someone who appears to have an undue interest in a house, taking pictures, etc., or someone knocking on doors, asking where someone lives, etc. We’re asking that people call us about anything suspicious in nature,
no matter how benign it appears,” said Martins.
Martins said that, given the economy, police have seen an increase city-wide in the number of housebreaks. He added that residents in all neighborhoods should be on the lookout for suspicious acticity, given that a the suspects could likely move on to other areas.
The housebreaks were a key topic at a March 11 meeting of the Oak Hill Neighborhood Association. Over 50 people turned out at the Oak Hill Nursing Home to share their experiences and concerns, according to Arthur Plitt, the group’s president.
Pawtucket Community Police Officer Everette LaMountain shared many suggestions and tips on how to have a more secure home and a safer neighborhood.
Plitt , also president of the Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket, provided a list of Crime Stopper Tips that include a reminder for residents to turn on their burglar alarm if they have one and to use lighting for extra security. Homeowners are also urged to tell a neighbor if they are going away or have them check on their property even while at work.
Plitt said that when people began talking about the housebreaks at the meeting, many mentioned noticing a strange truck or an open bag, and one even mentioend seeing footsteps in snow that lead up to a window.
“Neighbors often have the gut reactions as to who belongs there and what just does not seem right. It is better to have the police check out a strange vehicle or person than to discover a neighbor’s house was broken into and robbed,” noted Plitt.
Plitt credited the residents of Oak Hill for being vigilant when the neighborhood experienced a series of housebreaks a few Christmas seasons ago. “But, we all get lazy and fall into that pattern of not turning on their alarm or running out for a short while and leaving a door unlocked, ” he stated.