All of the robberies have taken place at night, while residents were sleeping. Most of the instances, according to police, have occurred because a burglar was able to gain easy entry through an unlocked sliding door or an unsecured dog door - which allowed them to unlock the door itself.
Police said that those with home security systems should contact police as soon as their alarm sounds - even if they don't notice anything missing right away. People are also asked to contact police should they see anything suspicious.
The spike in burglaries takes place at the same time as officers in the area are dealing with a significant increase in violent crime. Tucson police have begun a special effort, including increased patrols in high crime areas, to stem a rising number of homicides. Since July, there have been 15 homicides in Tucson.
