Officers encourage Block Watch after string of burglaries

Mark Mroz told Fox Chase residents what he tells members of all the community association meetings he goes to: having an alarm on your home may not prevent a burglary, but it will keep the thief from staying in your house.

The 2nd District Community Relations Officer and Rich Simon, 7th District Community Relations Officer, talked with Fox Chase residents last night about crime reporting and prevention. It came as a response to a rash of burglaries on the 7300-block of Hasbrook Avenue.

Police have their eye on a white van with gray primer and what appear to be the letters ‘s’ and ‘h’ on the side, driven by a black male. as Mroz and Simon explain in the videos below, neighbor relations are key to noticing nuances on the block and spotting what could be something suspicious.

Both gave the same tip: If you’re calling to complain about something like a noise violation, ask the officer to respond to your house to file a complaint instead of telling your neighbor to keep it down and then moving on.

Both officers touted the importance of Block Watch and Town Watch in knowing what goes on in a neighborhood. The 7th District will host a Burglary Seminar 6 p.m. Tuesday at CORA, where residents can get information and crime prevention tips from Capt. Joseph Zaffino.