DANVERS — Burglaries are up sharply since the spring, according to police, who are using every available tool — from forensic science to information from the public — to solve these crimes.
"There has been a significant increase, and the guys and detectives are out there," Danvers police Capt. Edmund Plamowski said. "We need the citizens' involvement to tip us off on things out of place."
Since May 1, Danvers has seen 31 break-ins; 44 break-ins have been reported so far this year.
Police would normally be investigating the town's 19th break-in at this point in the year, according to Plamowski.
Danvers arrested a juvenile for a break-in near the high school in May, but the crimes continue.
Plamowski said the recent cases highlight the department's determination to solve break-ins, even months or years after the crime.
"We take these cases very seriously," Plamowski. "It's very traumatic to the people who go through this. It's an invasion of privacy."
Oftentimes, forensic evidence at the scene leads police to a suspect, even if it takes awhile.
Fingerprints from two recent break-ins came back last week to a 25-year-old East Boston man who is being held at the Nashua Street Jail in Boston.
But even if the case has seemingly gone cold, a culprit's biological calling card can lead to his capture. Following a break-in at an Andover Street house in 2008, investigators were able to recover blood evidence from the scene. That blood sample and its DNA came back recently from the state police crime lab and was matched to a 45-year-old man from Everett.
This is the second time that Danvers solved a break-in through DNA evidence. In May, police charged Gregory Loupos, 42, of Hull with a Conant Street break-in in June 2008.
However, fingerprint analysis has a faster turnaround time, with the state police Automated Fingerprint Identification System. And if someone isn't identified immediately, a match can often be found when new fingerprints are submitted, Plamowski said.
But even with all the new technology, Plamowski said a telephone can be the biggest help.
"Anything citizens tell us helps us," he said. "They are our eyes and ears in the community. They don't have to give their names if they see something suspicious."
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