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Sunbury Police Report Rise in Thefts from New Builds, Review Speed‑sign Data; One Patrol Tahoe in Repairs
Summary
Police Chief Rob Howard told council July calls for service increased and noted a rise in thefts from homes under construction; radar sign data showed anomalous max speeds due to combining errors; one patrol Tahoe received an engine replacement under warranty and another vehicle will be repaired via insurance following a crash.
Sunbury Police Chief Rob Howard told the City Council on Aug. 6 that the department has seen increased calls for service and a recent uptick in thefts from houses under construction, and he reviewed traffic‑speed data collected by radar signs.
Howard said construction‑site thefts typically involve thieves removing wiring and other materials from newly built homes, and the department has asked builders to secure sites: “They’re leaving these homes unlocked… so we have to get back in touch with them and have them secure these homes when they leave,” he said. He urged residents to report suspicious activity.
Chief Howard also summarized patrol statistics comparing July 2024 and July 2025. Calls for service rose from 372 in July 2024 to 444 in July 2025. Traffic stops increased from 92 (with 28 citations) in July 2024 to 138 (with 49 citations) in July 2025; warning rates stayed roughly consistent at about 65–70 percent.
Howard discussed radar sign data and cautioned that some maximum speed readings are anomalous because of radar “combining” when the device picks up two objects; he cited an example listing 78 mph that he said is not accurate and advised council that average speeds—rather than single maximums—give a better picture of conditions. The department plans to rotate radar‑sign placements and collect at least two weeks of data at each school‑area location after the start of the school year.
On fleet maintenance, Howard said the department recently installed a replacement engine in one Tahoe at a cost of about $1,000 and with a three‑year/100,000‑mile warranty. A second Tahoe suffered damage in a minor crash and was found to have a broken rack and pinion; Howard said that repair will be handled as an insurance matter and the vehicle is currently in for repairs. He described the department as working with vendors to manage warranty and insurance coverage.
Council members thanked the department for school‑year preparations and asked staff to continue public messaging about securing construction sites and obeying school‑zone limits. No formal council action was taken.
