The Rochester Police Department is warning residents after multiple breaks have been made into houses, out buildings, vehicles, and a utility trailer. Breaks have occurred during both the day and nighttime. Breaks have been made into homes in the 300 and 400 blocks of High Street as well as a home on Pierce Street, Pine Street, and the 600 block of County Road.

 Along with recent house breaks Rochester Police have also responded to a trailer and boat being broken into. Items taken in the breaks include items such as currency, jewelry, power tools, and electronics.

Rochester Police are asking for the public to keep an extra eye out and report suspicious persons and vehicles immediately by dialing 911. Anyone with information on the thefts is urged to contact the Rochester Police at 508-763-5112

Rochester Police offer the following prevention tips:

• Lock all doors and windows when leaving the house, even for a short while.
• Keep large sums of cash in banks and expensive jewelry in safe deposit boxes.
• Do not hide door keys outside the house.
• If you have an alarm system, be sure to set it every time you leave the house.
• Don’t allow items such as newspapers and mail to accumulate outside your home.
• Let a trusted neighbor know when you will be away. Ask them to keep an extra eye out.
• Take fans out of windows when leaving the home, even for a short while.
• 

The July 15 meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen was primarily an evening of appointments and reappointments.

The board appointed William Cantor, 4 Prospect Road, as an alternate member of the Board of Appeals and Ken Pacheco of 1 Lynfield Lane as a regular member of the Board of Appeals. They also voted to reappoint Bob Rogers and Marylou Kelliher to the Conservation Commission.

The Fire Department roster of appointments and reappointments included, for firefighters: Gary Bowman; Ross Macedo; Todd Henshaw; Tim Murray; Hayden Vieira; Tom Checkman; Darren Boucher; Micheal Muldoon; Marc Nadeau; Samuel Hill; Ned Kaiser; Adam Katz; Rebecca Smith; Cory Silva, and Steven Mills. Zachery Olivier and Pierce Randall were appointed as probationary firefighters.

Senior officers reappointed were Walter Morgado, call deputy chief; Capt. Michael Behan; Capt. David Scott; Capt. E. Robert Garde; Capt. Jordan Collyer; Lt. James Harlfinger, and Lt. Justin Dubois. Fire Alarm Superintendent is Fire Chief Andrew Murray, and assistant fire superintendents are Jordan Collyer, Robert Lincoln, and Matthew Whitlow. Dispatcher is Patrick Dawson and, for fire prevention, Andrew Bobola.

The Selectmen voted to accept the resignation of Cecile Callahan from the Recreation Committee.

Secretary Melody Pacheco shared with the board that town employees along with the family and friends of Charles Ouellette will be holding a memorial service at Ned’s Point on July 26. Pacheco can be contacted at Town Hall for the time of the service in the coming days.

The herring count has been completed and Selectman Tyler Macallister told the other members about the impressive results for the Mattapoisett River. The count was 55,000 up nearly 30,000 over last year. He said that the Sippican River’s count also indicates an uptick in the local herring population. Mattapoisett will maintain a fishing moratorium on herring until further notice.

Town Administrator Mike Gagne reported that water leaks have been repaired on the town wharves, as have the electrical wiring problems. He applauded the efforts of Barry Denham and his team, as well as Harbormaster Jill Simmons and her team for getting the work completed.

The Eagle Scout project to create handicapped access ramps at the Ned’s Point restroom has been completed, as has the handicapped access work at the town beach bathhouse.

Regarding the summer Recreation Department camp program, Gagne was happy to share that it has been a great success and gave credit to Deb Allaire and her team.

Rounding out his report was the ongoing evaluation and surveying of Water Street, Beacon Street, Main Street, and Marion Road for reconstruction, sidewalks, and storm drainage. Gagne said that, with help from Field Engineering, he should be able to prepare necessary documents for submittal to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Mattapoisett’s Tree Committee has also been conducting an investigation into the health of all trees along the scenic roadways in the village, and numbering each tree. That report, he said, would be included in upcoming public meetings. Those meetings will give the public full details on the scope of work proposed.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Board of Selectmen is scheduled for August 5 at 7:00 pm.

By Marilou Newell

On Friday, July 11, 2014 at 6:37PM the Marion Police Department investigated a break into a motor vehicle, which had been parked on South Street, near the intersection of Water Street. The owner reported that the passenger side window had been smashed and his daughter’s pocket book was stolen off the front seat. It is believed the incident occurred sometime between 6:00PM and 6:30PM.

On Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 7:20AM a resident of Briggs Lane reported his truck stolen from his driveway, during the night. The 2008 Ford F-150 pickup truck was believed to have been taken sometime after 11:00PM. A debit card belonging to the truck owner was used by the suspect at a store in Fall River a couple of hours later.

A neighbor discovered the license plate had been stolen off her vehicle, also during the night, which may have been used on the stolen pickup truck.

Another nearby resident reported that his unlocked vehicle had been entered during the night, but nothing was reported missing

Also on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 7:59AM a resident of Inland Road reported that her car had been broken into sometime during the night. The driver’s side window was smashed and a wallet taken from the vehicle.

Police are warning residents to not leave valuables in their vehicles and report any suspicious activity to the police department. These incidents are under investigation by Det. Scott Smith. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Smith at 508-748-1212, ext. 218.

Marion Police Department Press Release