July 8, 2004

Blooming Grove Burglars strike in several Orange towns

A series of burglaries in the towns of Blooming Grove, Chester, Warwick, Monroe and Woodbury have local and state police hunting for suspects.    The latest break-in took place June 30 at a home on Barnes Road in Blooming Grove, said town police Sgt. John Heppes.    Burglars entered the house from a rear window some time between 6:15 and 10:30 p.m., broke into a safe in the master bedroom and took off with 10 gold coins worth about $500 each, $4,000 in cash, jewelry and three handguns.    Police believe the same gang could be involved in all the burglaries.    "We've had about half-a-dozen or so burglaries in the town with similar MOs [modus operandi] since February," Heppes said.    The burglars seem to target unoccupied single-family homes around nightfall. They break in through back doors or windows. The loot is mostly jewelry, cash and guns.    "They seem to be laying off rifles, but they'll take handguns," said Detective Robert Compasso of the Monroe Police Department.    Six homes in Monroe have been hit since March; another six in Chester during the same period. At least four homes in Warwick have been burglarized since May and four in Woodbury were broken into since April. Maureen Nandini Mitra

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