Since the start of last month, officers say there have been 66 reported burglaries in the city - more than triple the 21 that were reported during the same period last year. Roughly one-third of those crimes are taking place during the daytime - considered between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Police are warning residents to fully secure their house whenever they leave, because many of the incidents have involved burglars coming in through unlocked doors or windows that had been left open for ventilation in the summer heat and not protected by home security systems. In addition, they are asked to call police if they see anything suspicious, such as a vehicle driving slowly through the neighborhood or remaining parked for long periods of time.
Burglars in the area are also becoming increasingly bold. KOVR-TV reports that one home has been hit three times in recent weeks, and a number of the robberies have taken place when residents were home.
