Spike in residential burglaries in South Richland
»Play Video
RICHLAND, Wash. - The area near Hills West is normally a pretty quiet, safe, part of town overlooking the Yakima and Columbia Rivers.
Now the neighborhood has become a prime target of burglars.
Riley Gray has lived on Rockwood Drive for the past 6 years. His take on the recent rash of crime, "Some people just left their back door unlocked because they're just used to a safe community and didn't have to worry about something and so somebody took advantage of that."
Sadly, it's more than that. Police say the thieves were brazen. Most of the break-ins occurred at night, while people were sleeping in their beds. Thieves went so far as to enter bedrooms in some cases and steal items right off the nightstand. The homeowners never woke up and none were hurt.
Nine houses and one vehicle have been hit. These aren't your average cat burglars.
Two houses have been hit on Rockwood Drive, only a block apart.
The neighborhood just to the east of the Hills West Estates has also been a favorite target of thieves. Seven houses and one car were hit just since Friday.
Police tell KEPR that they believe all crimes are related. Many of the residents agree and think that this was no random act of burglary at all.
Riley said, "My gut reaction is that it was planned. It wasn't just, better just break into a house and get something, I'm sure people have been doing research on it."
Richland police have been canvassing the neighborhood and talking to the residents. Riley has never seen so many cops hanging around.
Capt. Mike Cobb said, "We have extra patrols in the area and again we are looking for people who don't belong in the area."
Still police have little to go on. No forced entries and no witnesses. For now the south Richland neighborhood is on high alert.
If you see anything suspicious police want you to call them even if you don't live in South Richland.
They are relying on tips to help try to crack these cases and catch those responsible.
Now the neighborhood has become a prime target of burglars.
Riley Gray has lived on Rockwood Drive for the past 6 years. His take on the recent rash of crime, "Some people just left their back door unlocked because they're just used to a safe community and didn't have to worry about something and so somebody took advantage of that."
Sadly, it's more than that. Police say the thieves were brazen. Most of the break-ins occurred at night, while people were sleeping in their beds. Thieves went so far as to enter bedrooms in some cases and steal items right off the nightstand. The homeowners never woke up and none were hurt.
Nine houses and one vehicle have been hit. These aren't your average cat burglars.
Two houses have been hit on Rockwood Drive, only a block apart.
The neighborhood just to the east of the Hills West Estates has also been a favorite target of thieves. Seven houses and one car were hit just since Friday.
Police tell KEPR that they believe all crimes are related. Many of the residents agree and think that this was no random act of burglary at all.
Riley said, "My gut reaction is that it was planned. It wasn't just, better just break into a house and get something, I'm sure people have been doing research on it."
Richland police have been canvassing the neighborhood and talking to the residents. Riley has never seen so many cops hanging around.
Capt. Mike Cobb said, "We have extra patrols in the area and again we are looking for people who don't belong in the area."
Still police have little to go on. No forced entries and no witnesses. For now the south Richland neighborhood is on high alert.
If you see anything suspicious police want you to call them even if you don't live in South Richland.
They are relying on tips to help try to crack these cases and catch those responsible.
