A change in the borough ordinance regarding the “Distribution of circulars, handbills and samples” may help stem the recent increase in Haddonfield’s homes being burglarized. A news in brief item in the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Haddonfield reports rise in residential burglaries” (Feb. 9, 2012), indicated a spike of 19 such incidents since Jan. 1, a total of 28 burglaries since Nov. 1, and 73 burglaries in 2010. While homes in my section of Haddonfield have been broken into, I was further alarmed the day after this news item by finding yet another circular stuffed into the front door handle of my home.
These irritating, unsolicited advertisements serve as red flags for burglars that no one is home. I took my complaint to our borough police station only to learn that the abovementioned ordinance states that distribution of these nuisance flyers are permitted, so long as this activity “does not involve any form of oral or physical contact between the distributor and the distributee.” This is not reassuring for those of us who plan to be away for any extended period of time or for those whose homes have already been burglarized.
Rich Cunliffe
