In and surrounding the North Side Shopping Complex, 4 businesses have been burglarized in the past 4 months

Indianapolis, Indiana – A series of burglaries in and around a shopping center on the north side of the city are being looked into by IMPD.

It’s not yet apparent if they are related. Near Keystone Avenue and 54th Street, the 54th Place shopping center is where all of the incidents took place.

According to IMPD police reports, at least four nearby businesses had experienced burglaries in the previous four months.

The initial one took place in April at Indy Tacos. The front window was broken by the robber, who also took $100 in cash and the cash register.

A few doors down and a few months later, the southern eatery Mississippi Belle was attacked.

Then in June, a break-in at the Clean Scene laundromat resulted in the theft of two guns and $2,600.

The most recent incident occurred early on Tuesday at the Pawn Shop Pub. Before fleeing out the back, the burglar busted the front door and took $2000.

“Burglaries and thefts from vehicles are generally crimes that people commit…they want to do it quickly, they want to break and they want to get something and they want to leave,” Lt. Shane Foley said.

While the Pawn Shop Pub’s owner declined to speak to the media, he did urge residents and businesses in the South Broad Ripple neighborhood to remain alert.

Security cameras are among the best methods for stopping a break-in, according to IMPD.

“They discourage people from committing crimes,” Lt. Foley said. “They help us identify people who have committed crimes both on that property and on the neighborhood properties.”

According to Foley, CPTED, or crime prevention through environmental design, can be used by both businesses and households. This can entail installing fencing or warning signs. anything that deters criminals from targeting a house or place of business.

“Motion lights that indicate somebody is here on this property, cameras, audible alarms,” Foley explained. “Those things can alert a potential criminal, ‘Hey, we’re watching you.’”

In none of the incidents have there been any reported arrests. Call CrimeStoppers at 317-262-TIPS if you have any information that could assist IMPD.