JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police in Jacksonville are investigating a pattern of burglaries in which crooks cut through locked screen doors to open unlocked sliding doors.
Police said they have noticed the pattern in the Baymeadows Road area of the Southside over the last three weeks.
Investigators said the burglaries happen during early morning hours when residents are inside sleeping. They said burglars cut through the screen doors and gain entry into the patio area, then open the unlocked sliding doors, enter the homes and steal purses and electronics.
Amanda Pearson is slated to graduate from nursing school this weekend and just received a new iPad as a gift, but she said that iPad was swiped from her Baymeadows apartment.
Pearson said it's scary because you never know if the crooks had weapons, or might have gone upstairs, where she was sleeping.
JSO is paying extra attention to this case because they said the same crime has happened five times over the past month around the Baymeadows area.
In fact, Pearson said some of her neighbors have had their screens cut, too, in the last few months.
Channel 4 crime analyst Ken Jefferson said it's on you to secure every door you can, and not to get comfortable if you have a screen door as an entrance to your property.
Anyone who has any information about this crime pattern or the identity of any burglars is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.