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Thieves targeting homes and cars in Oakfield and Alabama

By Howard B. Owens

There's been an increase in home burglaries and overnight vehicle break-ins in the Oakfield and Alabama area, according to Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster.

Some of the burglaries may be related and there is at least one person whom investigators suspect being involved in several -- but not all -- of the thefts.

Items ranging from jewelry and electronics to cars and motorcycles have been stolen during the spree.

"Business is kind of booming out that way," Brewster said.

In Alabama there's been a pair of daylight burglaries that investigators think are connected because of the type of items stolen, the similarity between the houses and the close proximity to each other.

Other burglaries include:

    -- a garage on Drake Street, where a pipe wrench was stolen;
    -- homes on Galloway Road and Fisher Road, both with televisions, cash and other items stolen;
    -- a pair of dirt bike thefts on Oak Street and Cary Street in the Village of Oakfield;
    -- a pick-up truck, also stolen in the village, on Mill Street;
    -- and copper stripped and stolen from a home across from Oakfield-Alabama Elementary School on Route 63.

It's likely, Brewster said, that local thieves -- in addition to the one person already a person of interest -- is involved in these larcenies.

A local resident whose car was broken into over night called The Batavian and wondered why the Sheriff's Office isn't increasing patrols in the area.

Brewster said that approach isn't really productive. Unless a deputy is super familiar with a neighborhood, he might not spot cars or people who are out of place.

"That's why it's so important that people call us if they see something suspicious," Brewster said.

Brewster said if a resident sees an unfamiliar car drive down a street and drop somebody off, or if a garage door has been left open, for example, it's a good idea to call the Sheriff's Office (343-5000).

WBTA's Geoff Redick contributed to this report.

teri boring

Ok, here's the thing, people of Oakfield have known about this issue only by word of mouth between friends, family and neighbors. We have been posting warnings and concerns on facebook and by talking with people, but only on the 24th did anything about this issue become "public" in print right here on the Batavian (thank you for that). Meanwhile we are all watching out for each other and wishing that our police patrol was still here. We pay taxes, state, federal, village, town, county,school and property, yet we are told that there are no funds to cover a full time patrol in our village. Please note that when this was taken away from us some time ago, our taxes didn't go down, yet we have nothing. We can get grants to put half dead trees throughout the village, that our village crew has to take care of at the expense of all the tax payers, but we can't have police??? Really, something seems so wrong with this! I am sure if you asked the people what we would rather have, dead trees and some cute little benches that we can sit on main street and watch the traffic go by or police patrol for our safety and a good name for of village, that the people would rather have a safe place for their families! Why do we keep paying taxes and getting nothing in return? So people of Oakfield if you would like to see police patrol back in our village, speak now! The only way that we are going to get the protection that we deserve is by speaking up! If you have something to say about it, good, bad or ugly, make it known right here and share it with everyone that you can!

Oct 26, 2011, 5:13pm Permalink

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