Between 3 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday, thieves broke into five different houses in Vernon and burglarized them as residents were sleeping. Another resident reported someone trying to break into a third home, but the resident apparently scared off the intruder.
Police said the residential burglaries happened on Dailey Circle, Morrison Street and Highland Avenue. There were also two break-ins on Grand Avenue, according to officials.
Police received the first report at 3:45 a.m. when a resident of Morrison Street called 911 to report that someone had broken into his or her home. The caller could hear someone walking around.
Police said the intruder came in through an unlocked door, stole items and money and fled, police said.
Several Vernon police officers responded but did not find anyone.
At 4:13 a.m., Vernon Police received another 911 call from a resident on Dailey Circle, reporting that he or she woke to someone trying to break in to the house.
Police said the intruder tried to enter the house through a first-floor window, but the resident woke up and apparently scared off the intruder before he or she got inside.
Several Vernon police officers and a K9 Unit responded and checked the area but did not find anyone there either.
Then, around 7 a.m., a resident on Highland Avenue woke up and found that her house had been burglarized while she was sleeping. Her pocketbook and other items had been stolen from her house.
Vernon Police believe the three burglaries are connected and were committed by the same person.
Police said, statistically, night-time residential burglaries are not very common, but they are issuing warnings.
Residents should close and lock all ground floor windows while you are sleeping or not at home and lock all doors, particularly with a deadbolt style lock.
Using motion-sensor spotlights is also recommended.
Anyone with information to help identify the intruder should call Vernon Police at 860-872-9126.
Callers can request to remain anonymous.
Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com