after report of theft attempt

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Recorder/paul franz

Local and state police set up a perimeter along railroad tracks in South Deerfield while looking for a man suspected of trying to break into cars at a nearby business Wednesday.

DEERFIELD - A man spotted searching through cars in the Pelican Products parking lot in broad daylight Wednesday morning prompted a search of the area by state and local police and a brief lockdown of Deerfield Elementary School.

According to Deerfield Police Chief Michael Wozniakewicz, at about 10:30 a.m., an employee of Pelican spotted a man they didn't recognize apparently checking doors of cars parked in the lot, which holds scores of cars.

When spotted, the man ran toward the woods that abut the lot at 147 North Main St. in South Deerfield, Wozniakewicz said.

Wozniakewicz said that it doesn't appear that any of the cars were entered, nor has anything been reported missing.

The chief said that car break-ins in commercial lots are unusual, but have happened there before a couple of years ago.

A company email was sent to employees of Pelican, reminding them to keep their cars locked, Wozniakewicz said.

Police believe the suspect may have been using the nearby railroad tracks as an exit, and without knowing his intentions, contacted the school and instructed it to lock down until more information was available.

Wozniakewicz said that it was only done as a precaution. Information from the school indicated it the lockdown was "very brief."

State police, including a helicopter, a dog handler from Montague and Whately and Sunderland police joined the search around the area of routes 5 and 10 and South Deerfield.

Review of Pelican's video surveillance showed that the man returned to the parking lot from the woods, entered a van and drove away from the area, Wozniakewicz said.

Police continue to review surveillance video and hope to gather more information, including a solid description of the van.

Police remind people to keep their vehicles locked.