MASS: Criminal haven due to the strict victim disarmament laws

http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/burg08222001.htm

Police warn of roving band of home burglars
by Tom Farmer

Wednesday, August 22, 2001

After a three-week lull, investigators believe a band of “traveling criminals” has returned to the area with a vengeance after a rash of brazen housebreaks were reported in Greater Boston this week.advertisement – explore within this space

Preying primarily on homeowners who leave their dwellings unlocked while they are working outside, the thieves, believed to be of Eastern European descent, are suspected in more than 50 housebreaks this summer.

On Monday morning, a Lexington homeowner surprised two women who had broken into a Concord Avenue dwelling and Wellesley police reported a similar break-in later in the day.

“They do it both ways,” said Lexington police Lt. Charles Sargent.

“They either try to engage people while they are in their yard while one of them enters the home or they break in if no one answers the door.”

Needham Detective Sgt. Al Droney said the thieves typically work in groups of two women burglars with a male driver.

The women use a “booster apron” to tie their hair and once inside the dwelling, they remove the apron, fill it with valuables such as jewelry, silver and cash, then conceal the apron beneath a loose-fitting dress or sweatshirt and walk out of the house.

“After the publicity about the group, there was a three-week lull and we felt the news coverage had driven them out of state,” said Droney.

“But everything dies a natural kind of death and either they thought it was safe to return or we have a new crew.”

Lexington police released a composite drawing yesterday of one of the female suspects, hoping it will generate leads in the case.

“The most disturbing thing is they mostly prey on the elderly,” said Sargent.

Weston Deputy Police Chief Roland Anderson said more than 25 police departments are working together to nab the gang, but the slick bandits have so far eluded capture.

“Everybody is talking to one another,” he said of the collaborative police effort.

“We’re trying as hard as we can to catch these people, but they are very good. We’ve had problems with these groups in years past and it looks like they have returned.”

Droney said another common scam, which is usually run by male members of the group, involves men who show up at a house wearing a type of utility uniform and say they are there to read a meter. While the homeowner takes one man into the basement, another grabs as many valuables as he can.