Spark in Eastern Conn. home burglaries

NORTH STONINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Police are urging folks to be vigilant after a spike in home burglaries in some eastern Connecticut towns. The quiet rural roads are now traveled by burglars breaking into homes often in the middle of the day.

Not a surprise to a woman who did not want to be identified and says she no longer leaves her doors unlocked.

"A lot of it too know is you know people are out of work and they want the money and so they are looking to see whatever they can find but we've had a problem in this area really I could say since the casino went in," said the woman.

State police are offering tips to keep homes and valuables safe. Lock all windows and doors, including those on the second floor. Make your home appear to be occupied, leave on lights, radio, or your television. Set burglar alarms even if you're leaving for only a few minutes. Lock up ladders or other tools burglars can use to break in and cut back brush to make your home visible from the street.

The State Police Sargent who compiled these tips also warns folks to be suspicious of anyone approaching your home. That means anyone looking for directions or asking if a certain person lives there or even asking if you've seen a lost dog. Those are ruses burglars have used to find places to hit.

"And that's what's sad with the elderly people. They just want to welcome anybody in but I remember you from you doing an interview at a church I used to work for," said the woman.

And that's the only reason she opened the two front doors she always keeps locked.

"I've had somebody else come to the house already today once and it was just like...just shooed them away," said the woman.

Police also say if you come home and it appears you've been broken into call 911 from outside so police can make sure it's safe to go in.