MONROE - The Green County Sheriff's Department is investigating 19 burglaries which have taken place within a seven-mile radius of Monroe since November.
The first burglaries were reported in mid-November. Six have occurred since March 11, Detective Chris Fiez said.
The burglaries took place at several residences on Greenbush, Center, Autumn Ridge, Advance roads, County N and County B.
The burglaries have taken place during the day, Chief Deputy Jeff Skatrud said.
Fiez said it's likely a person knocks on a door and, when no one answers, breaks into the house through a patio door, a window or a garage door.
Skatrud said items taken from the home are prescription drugs or money. Things normally taken during a burglary, such as stereo equipment or televisions, are passed by, he added.
The sheriff's department thinks drugs could be a motive for the break-ins.
"Desperate people do desperate things," Skatrud said.
Skatrud said the homes haven't been ransacked.
Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said a daytime burglary allows the suspect to be sure no one else is in the home, and also allows them more opportunity to find what they're looking for.
Roderick said there are some things people can do to make it appear that the house is occupied during the day.
He suggested people keep curtains closed, so a burglar can't look in to see if the house is empty; lock all doors and windows; and keep a vehicle in the driveway.
"We want to create a perception of risk for the burglar," he said.
Some of the home were in isolated areas, but some were within sight of another house.
Fiez recommends that people who see something suspicious or unusual at a neighbor's home call the sheriff's department.
He also said that if a homeowner comes home to find evidence of a break-in, they should contact the department before going inside the house.
Fiez said the department has received tips from the public, but no one has been arrested. Patrols on rural roads have increased, Roderick said.
Anyone with information about the burglaries can contact the Green County Sheriff's Department at 328-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-7463.
Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000.
The first burglaries were reported in mid-November. Six have occurred since March 11, Detective Chris Fiez said.
The burglaries took place at several residences on Greenbush, Center, Autumn Ridge, Advance roads, County N and County B.
The burglaries have taken place during the day, Chief Deputy Jeff Skatrud said.
Fiez said it's likely a person knocks on a door and, when no one answers, breaks into the house through a patio door, a window or a garage door.
Skatrud said items taken from the home are prescription drugs or money. Things normally taken during a burglary, such as stereo equipment or televisions, are passed by, he added.
The sheriff's department thinks drugs could be a motive for the break-ins.
"Desperate people do desperate things," Skatrud said.
Skatrud said the homes haven't been ransacked.
Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said a daytime burglary allows the suspect to be sure no one else is in the home, and also allows them more opportunity to find what they're looking for.
Roderick said there are some things people can do to make it appear that the house is occupied during the day.
He suggested people keep curtains closed, so a burglar can't look in to see if the house is empty; lock all doors and windows; and keep a vehicle in the driveway.
"We want to create a perception of risk for the burglar," he said.
Some of the home were in isolated areas, but some were within sight of another house.
Fiez recommends that people who see something suspicious or unusual at a neighbor's home call the sheriff's department.
He also said that if a homeowner comes home to find evidence of a break-in, they should contact the department before going inside the house.
Fiez said the department has received tips from the public, but no one has been arrested. Patrols on rural roads have increased, Roderick said.
Anyone with information about the burglaries can contact the Green County Sheriff's Department at 328-9400 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-7463.
Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000.