By Jordan Fischer
Current in Fishers
A rash of burglaries across Hamilton County, including seven in Fishers, has law enforcement agencies warning residents to be on the alert.
On March 1 and 2 alone, four burglaries occurred in Carmel. All four burglaries occurred during daylight hours, and involved forced entry to the residence. Jewelry and electronics were the most commonly targeted items. Westfield police have also received a number of reports of burglary since the beginning of the year.
Since January 18, the Fishers Police Department has received seven reports of residential burglary, and one attempted burglary. Five of the seven burglaries occurred between February 9 and 14. Nearly all of the burglaries occurred during daylight hours, and in residential neighborhoods along Cumberland Road between 96th St. and 131st St.
According to Sgt. Randy McFarland, of the Fishers Police Department, the burglaries appear to be crimes of opportunity.
“The vast majority of them are situations in which someone is going up to the front door and knocking, then waiting and watching the home,” McFarland said. “When they don’t see anything, they approach again and kick in the front door.”
“Obviously they’re looking for folks who aren’t home,” McFarland added.
On January 25, the FPD arrested two Indianapolis teens on charges of burglary in the Geist area. An apparently unrelated burglary resulted in the theft of a 2004 Lexus and 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee from a Geist residence.
According to McFarland, law enforcement agencies across the county are working together to determine a relationship, if any, between recent crimes. Currently, FPD detectives suspect at least two to three separate individuals are involved in incidents in Fishers.
A witness in Fishers reported seeing a “light colored” Chevy Monte Carlo or Lumina with missing hubcaps on the driver’s side at a burglarized home. A witness to a burglary on the 3000 block of Warren Way in Carmel observed a white GMC Yukon backed up to the building. The suspects were described as black males, both around 6’0”. One was further described as being slightly taller than the other, weighing between 230-250 lbs., in his twenties and wearing a greenish-gray hooded jacket and blue jeans.
Sgt. McFarland urged residents to raise their sense of awareness about their neighborhood.
“We’ve been appealing to the public,” McFarland said. “Now is a good time to think about the security of your home. It might be a good time to install a deadbolt, if you don’t have one.”
“What we’re trying to do,” McFarland said, “is remove opportunities, and harden our targets, so to speak.”
McFarland also encouraged residents to join their neighborhood watch, if they aren’t already members, and to contact the police department about beginning one if their neighborhood is without. And measures like a pet dog or security camera, even a dummy camera, can go a long way in deterring thieves, he added.
“Just introducing an element of risk to the burglars might cause them to weigh their options and move on,” McFarland said.
Residents with information about crimes are encouraged to contact the Fishers Police Department at 317-595-3300, or via the anonymous tip line at 317-595-3305.