BREAK-INS PROMPT CALL FOR VIGILANCE.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

Residents are being advised to lock all their doors and windows before leaving home, start a Neighborhood Watch and be on the lookout for suspicious activity following a series of residential burglaries that have targeted the community.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 13 burglaries generally between the areas of 55th Street West and Avenue L-8 to L-14 in the typically low-crime area.

``We just want to encourage residents to be extra cautious,'' said Deputy Theresa Dawson. ``If a criminal can get into a house through an open window, it's going to be the easiest house for them to get into.''

Officials said that they are unsure if the crimes are being committed by the same person or people but have found that a similar method is being used in all of the crimes.

``All of the entries were made through a back bedroom window,'' Dawson said. ``We have not recovered any property.''

Items taken in the burglaries include computers, handguns, clothing, kitchen appliances, fishing equipment, power tools and bicycles.

``We just want to get it under control before the crime grows in the area,'' Dawson said. ``We don't want there to be 15 or 20.''

Of the burglaries reported, there were six in January; none in February or April, two in March, one in May and July, and three in June.

Residents interested in forming a Neighborhood Watch or in making their homes less likely targets may contact the Lancaster sheriff's station at [phone].

Deputies are also encouraging residents to participate in National Night Out on Aug. 3, where residents are asked to leave an exterior light on between 7 and 10 p.m. in an effort to increase the awareness of crime and drug prevention.