Dracut police caution business owners about recent break-ins

From Today’s Lowell Sun

By Dennis Shaughnessey, Lowell Sun

DRACUT — Police are warning business owners to take precautions after a local eatery was robbed over the weekend.

Thieves smashed a window and took an undisclosed amount of cash from Coyle’s Roadhouse Tavern on 1480 Broadway Road after closing hours on Sunday. Deputy Police Chief David Chartrand said the incident was the first in several months.

“But in many occasions, once it happens, it starts a trend,” he said. “We just want to alert the business owners in town that it happened at Coyle’s and there are ways to prevent it from happening to them.”

Smash-and-grab artists tend to make quick work of their targets, often ignoring any alarm system that might be installed, explained Chartrand.

“They usually get in and out very quickly,” he said. “They go straight for the valuables or for the cash register. They’ll take what whatever they can carry out.”

Chartrand said it’s important for business owners to secure cash and valuables before closing for the night. If the cash register can be seen from outside, Chartrand suggests leaving it open and empty.”Nobody is going to bother breaking in if they can see that they’re not going to come out with anything,” Chartrand said.

Several months ago, next door to Coyle’s, the Sawmill Pizza and Smokehouse was robbed twice. Chartrand said that drugs are usually the motive.

“When you’re dependent, you’re going to do anything you have to do to get your drugs,” Chartrand said. “We just want to stress to business owners that they should take the necessary precautions to make sure their establishment is safe.”

Chartrand also said that business owners should be careful about how they handle money in front of customers.

“You don’t really want them to see you counting off large sums of money,” Chartrand said.

Coyle’s Roadhouse Tavern is owned by Dracut Selectman Robert Cox, who did not want to comment.