AUTHORITIES SEEK HELP IN RASH OF BURGLARIES.

Byline: Don Holland Daily News Staff Writer

A rash of more than three dozen daytime burglaries and break-in attempts mostly in Thousand Oaks and Moorpark prompted sheriff's officials to issue a warning Wednesday to residents and ask for their help in turning up clues.

Since January, 39 apparently related burglaries and attempted break-ins have been reported in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Westlake Village, Newbury Park and Oak Park, according to law enforcement officers.

The crimes typically occur in the morning, with burglars prying open rear sliding doors before making off with small, valuable items - factors that led investigators to conclude the crimes might be linked, said detective Sgt. Terry Hughes of the Moorpark sheriff's station.

In an Oak Park burglary, thieves got away with a $50,000 watch and a $25,000 pair of earrings. In Thousand Oaks, burglars stole jewelry and a coin collection worth $34,000.

``There's a good possibility that they're related, and a majority are surely related,'' Hughes said. ``We literally have no leads. We're at a loss. That's why we're going to the press and the public. And hopefully somebody will see something.''

Many of the 12 break-ins and attempts in Moorpark have occurred in the Mountain Meadows and Peach Hill areas. In a few cases, there were no signs of forced entry. The latest incidents were reported Friday when a home in the 13900 block of Keisha Drive in Moorpark was burglarized and attempts were made at two other homes.

Sheriff's officials urged residents to lock doors and windows when away. The burglars might knock on front doors to see whether anyone is home, and officials urged residents to immediately report complete descriptions of suspicious cars and people.

Sgt. Steven Bourke of the Thousand Oaks sheriff's station said the department has stepped up neighborhood patrols and crime analysts are looking for other similarities in hopes of solving that city's 22 burglaries.

Officials have recorded at least five incidents in Westlake Village, three in Oak Park and two in Newbury Park.

Residents who believe a burglar might be inside should not enter and immediately go to a neighbor's to call police.

``Any burglar that's interrupted is like a cornered animal,'' Hughes said. ``Many arm themselves and are bound to use a weapon in an aggressive manner.''

Despite the rash of break-ins, both cities are among the safest in the nation.

In 1997, Thousand Oaks recorded 211 residential burglaries, a 12 percent drop from the year before. In Moorpark, only 68 home burglaries were reported in 1997, a 31 percent drop from the year before, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, which provides police services to both cities under contract.

``The residential burglary, by nature, is rare in Moorpark,'' Hughes said. ``We get strings of burglaries occasionally. But as far as jewelry burglaries, I don't recall any trends since the price of gold went down (several years ago).''

Anyone with information on a crime suspect may anonymously call Crime Stoppers at (805) 494-TALK.