Rash of Burglaries
In Several Towns
By Sandy Cooch

State and local police report a rash of burglaries in the past week. Three residences in the Rochester area were burglarized on Friday, Nov. 2; Progressive Plastics in Williamstown was hit sometime over the weekend, and M&M Beverage Center in Randolph was broken into early Tuesday morning. Items stolen included safes, cash, electronics, and cigarettes.

At 5 p.m. Friday, state police in Royalton received three separate calls from homeowners in the Hancock and Rochester area advising that their homes were burglarized.

The residences were on Buttles Road in Hancock, and on Oak Lodge Road and Town Line Road in Rochester. Troopers responded and found that all homes were forcibly entered, and that items such as cash and electronics were stolen.

This week, VSP Royalton urged all homeowners in the area to lock all doors and windows in their homes when away. State police are asking people in these communities to help solve the burglaries. Residents are encouraged to write down the plate numbers of any suspicious vehicles, and to report any suspicious vehicles or people in the neighborhood to the Royalton barracks at 234-9933, as soon as possible.

On November 5, at 6:30 a.m., state police in Middlesex received a burglary complaint from Progressive Plastics Inc. in Williamstown. Troopers on scene found no sign of forcible entry into the building. Two safes, along with multiple other items, were taken.

Anyone with information on this burglary is asked to contact Tpr. Megan Wells at 229-9191, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-529-9998.

Cordless Drill Missing?

Less than 24 hours after Williamstown break-in, Randolph police responded to an alarm at M&M Beverage on Salisbury Street, at 3:50 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 6. The perpetrator(s) sprinted out a side door after triggering the alarm, but did manage to nab some packages of Newport cigarettes on the way out.

The thief or thieves, who were clever enough to disable a surveillance camera, left behind a piece of evidence, police noted.

A cordless Black & Decker drill, which was used to help gain entry into the building, via a small window, was found on the ground, Randolph Police said. Residents who own tools are urged to check to see if they are missing a drill.

The unknown perpetrators were persistent, police noted. After failing to gain access to M&M by removing a piece of plywood on the south or rail side of the building, they managed to wriggle their way in through a 16-by-16-inch window around the corner.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Randolph police at 728-3737.

In addition to these incidents, state police throughout Vermont reported other break-ins, including a daytime burglary, Nov. 5, of a Bridgewater residence. A large amount of cash and a Glock model .22 semi-automatic pistol was stolen, police said. In other places, construction tools and equipment and laptop computers were nabbed.