Residents on Alert After Rash of Burglaries - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

Northwest Lubbock residents are double checking to make sure their doors and windows are locked after residents at Lynnwood Townhomes reported six break ins within ten days. After the complex's owner learned of the burglaries, he passed out notices to over 500 residents in the complex. It advises residents to take extra precaution, but for the victims of the six break-ins, the notice comes too late.

When Jennifer Mountcastle and Brittney Rogers returned home the evening of Thursday, July 14th, their fence gate was open. Inside, the doors were broken and the carpet is now stained where police dusted for fingerprints. Mountcastle said, "The door was smashed in, they tore out the sheet rock and all of our doors have been kicked in, that's when we called 9-1-1."

They weren't the only victims. Lynnwood Townhomes Manager, Elroy Wisian said at least five other tenants reported similar break-ins within ten days. Wisian said, "I've got tenants that aren't happy and it needs to be resolved as quickly as possible."

He said the suspects pose as maintenance workers. They'll knock on your door and ask how many people live there. Then, when you're not home, they break in.

Although the complex added extra security because of the burglaries, the girls still don't feel quite as safe as they once did. Rogers says, "We were just worried about our safety later on and if we could even sleep thinking that someone had been in our house and seen everything-- looked at all our pictures, and gone through our drawers."

The girls are now taking the complex's security advice, as well as a few added measures.

Jennifer said, "maybe as a community work on watching out for suspicious things that are going on within your neighborhood, maybe get to know your neighbor so you know who should be going in and out of that house."

Wisian said security guards have identified the burglars as two African American men in a blue 1977 Ford four door truck. He also said they tend to hit around dinnertime from about 6:00 to 8:30.

If you know of anything please call Crime Line at (806) 741-1000.

get more>> Web Enhanced Crime Prevention Tips for You and Your Home Tips on what you can do both in and around your home to keep you and your family safe from crime.