Swansea asks residents for help following spike in car burglaries, thefts
The Village of Swansea hosted an open meeting Tuesday night to talk with residents about the rising number of vehicle burglaries and thefts and discuss possible solutions.
The station recently received 25 reports in one week, according to Police Chief Matthew Blomberg. Ten calls were received from June 27-29, and 15 more came in from July 1-3.
Blomberg told around 30 attendees at the meeting that the number of car break-ins is higher now than earlier in the year for multiple reasons, including no school and nicer weather. These crimes typically take place between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., according to village officials.
Mayor Jeff Parker said that vehicle burglaries and thefts are tough crimes to combat and that the police department is working to follow up on reported incidents.
“The more the public can help these officers, the better chance we have to get a grip on this,” Parker said.
How residents can help
Organizers and attendees shared their ideas about how to help deter crime opportunities:
Lock vehicles and do not leave valuables.
Of the 25 reports made between June 27 and July 3, 21 of them involved unlocked vehicles, according to Blomberg.
Recovered items, which once included a tossed wallet still containing cash and cards, led police to believe the subjects were looking for weapons, he said.
Resident Janet Kemmerer said she doesn’t leave her garage door opener in the car if parked outside and advised others to do the same. Her car doors, exterior garage doors, and doors from the garage to the house are also locked, she said.
Report details to the police.
Police department officials encouraged residents to report any information they have about burglaries and thefts. They said they accumulate records over time to compile a more detailed case file.
“We would rather have a hundred people call than nobody call,” Deputy Police Chief Keith Howard said.
Install a surveillance camera.
The police officials also urged citizens to pay attention to motion notifications and screen recordings to check for activity and to report findings and provide footage to authorities.
Keep yards bright and maintained.
Well-lit yards and trimmed bushes make it harder for someone to hide, Blomberg said.
Parker asked citizens to consider using motion-activated lighting or leaving porch lights on at night.
Stay alert and aware of surroundings.
The village officials suggested residents create neighborhood watch groups to notice and share information about unusual or suspicious activity.
To stay informed about police activity in Swansea, the public can access police blotter reports on the Swansea Police Department’s website. Residents can also sign up for emergency alerts via Hyper-Reach, which can send messages to cell phones, landlines or email addresses.
Visit the department website at swanseail.org/1086/Police-Department for more information.
This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 3:45 PM.
