PROSPECT — The Resident State Trooper’s Office is investigating a recent rash of vandalism and thefts at several businesses on Waterbury Road.
The incidents have occurred within the past two weeks in the overnight hours at businesses not only on Waterbury Road, but inside a plaza at 50 Waterbury Road, Resident Trooper Matt Comeau said Thursday.
The incidents range from attempted break-ins, to thefts of work tools or decorative statues, police said.
Comeau said police are looking into whether the incidents are related.
Prospect Pools at 52 Waterbury Road was struck twice. Most recently, someone broke into a truck and stole work tools sometime between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday, Comeau said.
The truck was locked, but there was no sign of forced entry, he said.
Over the weekend, a window on a door at Prospect Pools was broken, Comeau said. Police aren’t sure if someone was trying to break in then, he said.
Last week, someone tried to break into Service Master behind 50 Waterbury Road. A surveillance camera captured a suspect trying to enter through a door, Comeau said.
In another incident, windows were damaged on a bucket truck parked near Service Master, he said. Police believe the truck, which is owned by a private resident, was taken for a joy ride and returned.
Then, over the Labor Day weekend, two granite statues of labradors holding flower baskets in their mouths were stolen from outside Prospect Jewelers at 50 Waterbury Road. That theft occurred between the night of Aug. 31 and the morning of Sept. 1, police said.
Each statue measures about 3 feet tall, and their combined value is $400, police said.
Owner Tanya Schnipper said the statues weigh close to 200 pounds. It took a forklift and three big men to position the figures, she said, so she was amazed anyone could steal them.
“The guardians of the jewels went away,” Schnipper said.
Her neighbors on either side were affected, too. A bench was taken from one and flowerpots from the other, she said.
Police also are investigating an attempted break-in Sept. 15 at the Sunoco Gas Station at 68 Waterbury Road.
Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect captured on surveillance camera at Service Master.
Anyone with information can call police at (203) 758-6150.
