Another Break-In Reported

2-26-10

Chief Says Economy May Be Contributing To Unusual Outbreak

COOPERSTOWN

While its owners were away overnight earlier this month, a Brooklyn Avenue home was ransacked, the latest in what, for Cooperstown, is an unusual string of break-ins.
Police Chief Diana Nicols said “a lot of valuables were taken,” many of them small items that could more easily be sold for cash.
The incident, which occurred between 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, and 10 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, was part of what perhaps is a third wave of break-ins that have peppered the Cooperstown area since early last fall.
Two arrests were made after a spree in September.  One of those suspects – they were also linked to incidents in Oneonta and Unadilla – told police they were inspired by reports that 24-7 police coverage wasn’t in force here.
After 24/7 coverage was restored in October – with Officer Jim Cox’s graduation from the county Law Enforcement Academy in January, full-time officers are on duty day around – two related burglaries occurred at Bassett Healthcare housing on Riverside Drive, the chief said.
Another burglary occurred on Route 33, just south of the village line, in December, which was similar to the latest one:  Its owners were away for an extended period.
Nicols said that homeowners who often are away in the winter tend to alert her department and are put on “a very significant dark house list.” People who are away overnight are less likely to alert police, she said.
Other communities have noticed an increase in such incidents since the economic dip began, and the “little bit of a lag” experienced here may be ending, she said.