Catching burglars

Earlier this year a rash of more than 100 home burglaries in Cape Girardeau and Jackson gave residents the jitters. In communities where most neighborhoods are considered safe places to be, residents began worrying about being away from their homes. Then an arrest was made, and the suspect confessed to enough of the break-ins to satisfy police and prosecutors that they had their man. The burglar was sent to prison.

In recent weeks, the burglaries resumed, following the same pattern as before. The break-ins occurred during daylight hours. A door or window was smashed for access. Cash and jewelry were the main targets.

Victims wondered, as before, how such a brazen burglar could manage to break into a house, rummage through jewelry boxes and dresser drawers and get out with cash and jewelry in broad daylight without being seen by neighbors. The pattern suggested that the burglar scoped out potential victims to learn their habits and to know when their houses would be unoccupied.

As with the first round of burglaries, the case was finally solved because witnesses provided key information. Now two more suspects are in custody, thanks to the vigilance of neighbors, which remains one of the best deterrents against crime.