Cambridge Police Department Warns of Increased Housebreaks

The Cambridge Police Department warned of an “emerging pattern of housebreaks” and provided crime prevention and safety tips in a citywide alert sent on Friday.

The neighborhoods of the Port and Mid-Cambridge have seen an increase in break-ins over the last three months, according to the alert. CPD’s Crime Analysis Unit identified a 145 percent rise in house breaks in January of 2024 as compared to January of 2023 — from 11 incidents to 27 incidents. Total property crime, which also includes larceny and auto theft, increased 10 percent over the year.

The burglaries have occurred through unlocked doors and windows and have targeted electronics, jewelry, and cash, according to the CPD.

In response to the rising house breaks, CPD wrote they have increased patrol presence while they continue investigations into the crimes that took place on Columbia St., Harvard St., and Oxford St.

Peabody was the “most prominent hot spot” in Cambridge for burglary, according to the CPD. In January, four seemingly unrelated break-in attempts occurred, two of which resulted in arrests: one of a man attempting to enter a basement and one of a woman attempting to enter a home.

The other two reports have no known suspects.

While burglary increased, larceny in Cambridge has remained approximately the same over the year, decreasing by 1 percent. The majority of larceny reports over 2023 were package thefts, according to CPD.

Larceny from motor vehicles decreased 53 percent from this time last year.

On campus, the Harvard University Police Department has received 42 theft reports since the beginning of the year, including incidents at Lowell House, Eliot House, Wigglesworth, and Quincy House.

In its citywide alert, the CPD provided a list of recommendations for residents to prevent break-ins, first advising residents to always lock doors and windows — especially basement doors.

The list of recommendations also includes installing window guards that prevent them from being raised more than a few inches, avoiding the propping of doors and letting strangers into an apartment building, installing motion sensor lights and home security cameras, and reporting any crime or suspicious activity to the CPD.

—Staff writer Sally E. Edwards can be reached at sally.edwards@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @sallyedwards04 or on Threads @sally_edwards06.

—Staff writer Asher J. Montgomery can be reached at asher.montgomery@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @asherjmont or on Threads @asher_montgomery.