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Police investigating series of home invasions
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 11:28 PM EDT
According to Maysville Police Department Lt. Justin Horch, seven home invasions have occurred since Aug. 1, with the majority taking place in the areas of West Second Street and the Washington community. Horch said there are similarities between each burglary including the fact they appear to take place once the owners have left for work.
"The majority of them indicate anywhere between 8 and 9 in the morning to 4 to 5 when they get home from work," Horch said.
The primary target of the burglaries appears to be electronic equipment such as televisions, laptop computers and game consoles like XBox and PlayStation systems.
Horch said local pawn shops are being canvased to see if any of the stolen items turn up there.
Officials believe the robber(s) are doing their homework by watching the house and neighborhood for a few days to establish a pattern of activity by the homeowner. Forced entry into the homes has been reported and with the specific target of electronic equipment, Horch said it's possible the thieve of thieves know ahead of time what items they will take because they have looked into windows to get a feel for the house and its contents.
Horch said closing/drawing blinds and curtains at windows while away from home is one deterrent to being robbed, and the other is to work with neighbors to keep an eye on each other's property. He also said if someone notices anyone walking around a house or property when it is known the homeowner is away, officials should be notified immediately.
"They should report any suspicious activity," Horch said. "Everyone needs to heighten their awareness. Break-ins typically happen during the night, they're changing to the day for some reason."
Horch said residents of Valley View recently formed a neighborhood watch with the help of MPD Sgt. Chris Neal to ward off an increase in criminal activities in their area. Horch said the program has proven successful and other subdivisions or neighborhoods might want to consider the same program or something similar to protect their homes.
The burglaries remain under investigation and anyone with information should contact the Maysville Police Department at 606-564-9411; all information is confidential.
Contact Marla Toncray at marla.toncray@lee.net or 606-564-9091, ext. 275.
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