www.towntimes.com
Volume 29, Number 4
Yamartino to residents: Lock your vehicles By Nicole Zappone Town Times
Middlefield First Selectman Bob Yamartino said residents are concerned about the rise in crime locally — car break-ins in particular — and want to know what can be done to slow the trend. “People have to take responsibility to remove the valuables from their cars, lock their doors, and take the keys inside with them,” said Yamartino, who pointed out that over the last five years, 25 cars were stolen and more than 80 burglarized in Middlefield.
Friday, January 27, 2023
SO LONG STRESS
“I have only investigated one car in my 10 years that did not have the keys in it,” Resident Trooper Matthew O’Brien said. Since 2020, the start of the pandemic, police throughout the country have seen an increase in car break-ins and thefts. Yamartino said locals have been calling his office nonstop regarding car crimes. Along with working closely with local law enforcement, the first selectman said the town will be adding additional cameras to local roads.
Also, Yamartino wants residents to ask themselves “One-hundred percent of what they can do to prevent these vehicle burglaries were car crimes. in cars that were left unThe first selectman indicated locked,” Yamartino said. that residents should feel “There was no forced entry, comfortable calling 9-1-1 there was no broken glass. when a situation warrants, What does that say? Take as these calls help law enyour valuables out of your forcement determine how vehicle. Take your keys and much police coverage is lock your car.” needed in town. Of the 25 cars stolen in Middlefield over the last several “If you see something, say years, almost all had keys in- something,” Yamartino said. side. In 2022, six vehicles nzappone@record-journal.com were stolen in Middlefield. 203-317-2212
During midterm exam week, Coginchaug Regional High School students and staff were treated to a Therapy Dog Day, care of Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services. DMYFS Executive Director Cristal DePietro said the department plans to host more of these events down the road. Photo provided by Cristal DePietro
2022 was a busy year for fire department Town Times report
Since 1934, the Middlefield Volunteer Fire Company has protected life and property throughout the community. “There is a lot that goes into this organization to ensure we
provide the highest level of service possible to our town,” the MVFC said in a recent social media post recapping its actions in 2022.
10 percent increase from 2021, and its average response time was 6 minutes, 47 seconds. Also, an average MVFC response included 12 firefighters.
The department said it received 307 calls for service last year, a
All told, the MVFC logged 2,264 man hours in 2022, and accu-
mulated 2,291 hours of training. “While these are documented statistics and counts, there are hundreds to thousands of additional man hours our members See Fire Dept., A4