Three Armed Home Invasions Hit Providence in One Week
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Police are investigating the latest armed home invasion in Providence that occurred in Olneyville on Thursday night.
It marks the third reported home invasion in the city in just one week.
According to FBI data, 38% of assaults & 60% of rapes occur during home invasions.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThese Providence incidents have occurred across the city, and some have been violent.
Latest Incident
Providence police were called to Cambridge Street on Thursday night shortly before 8:30 PM.
Police met with the victims, who said four men in ski masks entered their apartment with guns.
The suspects then reportedly stole multiple items, including cash and a cell phone phone, before fleeing.
Prior Home Invastions
As GoLocal reported, on Saturday February 18, a home invasion was reported in the Elmwood section of the city.
There was an infant sleeping in the home at the time of the crime.
On Tuesday, February 21, a daytime armed home invasion was reported off of Valley Street near the Providence VA Medical Center.
One of the victims was assaulted and transported to the hospital.
Safety Tips
In a recent look at home burglaries, Forbes offered the following tips:
"Add Exterior Lighting: In general, criminals aren’t big fans of brightly lit yards and entryways. Although most burglaries occur during the day when the home’s occupants are away at work and school, nighttime home intrusions can be made less attractive by illuminating potential entry points. Add exterior lighting and lights with motion detection near entry doors, windows, decks and patios, driveways or anywhere else necessary to make detection hard to avoid.
Lock Windows and Doors: It may sound too good to be true, but simply locking your windows and doors can be an effective deterrent for a criminal looking for a quick and easy burglary who happens to be walking by your home. A would-be intruder may simply choose a target based on whether or not the front door is locked.
Practice Social Media Safety: Social media seems an excellent way to share vacation plans and photos. However, criminals are keenly aware of that fact as well. Typically, social media platforms are public forums where a potential burglar can locate a target and an available time slot for illicit activity in your home if they know you won’t be there.
Avoid posting dates of your vacation and hold off on posting photos until you return from your trip.
Close Blinds and Curtains: Keeping your blinds or curtains closed when you leave won’t stop a criminal from breaking into your home. However, not being able to see the value of your possessions from the outdoors will often deter them from taking the chance for potentially little reward.
Install Automatic Interior Lighting: Installing smart lighting that you can control through an app is the best automatic interior lighting to deter home invasions while you’re not home. The second best is the installation of programmable automatic lighting timers. However you do it, having lights turn on and off at irregular intervals while you’re away will give potential thieves the illusion that you’re home, making it less attractive for committing a property crime."
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