Burglaries spook Cedar Park residents

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) - The Cedar Park Police Department is asking for help from the community to stop a string of daytime burglaries that have going on since January. Although police have been working with neighborhood groups, they need more help from the public.

Police said the burglaries have occurred in residential neighborhoods and several apartment complexes between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. See an interactive map of where some of the burglaries have taken place below:

View Daytime Cedar Park burglaries in a larger map

"It was clearly obvious we had been burglarized," said burglary victim Amanda Torres. "Everything was ransacked. The drawers were open."

Torres put in an alarm system and video camera after her front door was smashed in back in January. Her family lost about $10,000-worth of belongings to the thieves.

"They took every piece of jewelry that I owned except for what I was wearing that day," said Torres.

However, the worst part is peace of mind was also stolen from the family.

"It's a very scary thought, of course," said Torres. "What it's done to the children...they don't want to sleep in their rooms anymore."

Not far away, Dale Martin's neighbor across the street was a victim on Tuesday.

"He wasn't gone long at all," said Martin. "I guess it was just [a] quick in-and-out. [They] smashed the door down."

Although there is no specific vehicle description, police think that the burglars are operating vehicles that are large enough to transport televisions and home computers with ease. They also said the suspects are backing into driveways or parking in very close proximity to the homes to reduce the amount of time it takes to remove items.

Despite that, police have very little information and more homes around the city are being targeted. Police said they are worried these daytime burglaries are a growing trend.

"This problem has accelerated in the past month," said Captain Jeff Hayes with the Cedar Park Police Department.

Hayes said thieves are starting to hit apartment complexes too.

"There's been a lot of 'clipboard walkers' going around, asking 'do you want to do this,'" said Martin. "So, it makes us all nervous of any solicitation going on."

Cedar Park police said Martin could be on to something. Police think the suspects are most likely watching the residents leaving their homes and also closely watching the neighborhoods where they strike. On several occasions, the burglaries occurred within the first 30 minutes to an hour after the resident left their home. They also think the burglars may be knocking on doors to check the residences and have a cover story prepared if they come in contact with a resident who is at home.

The suspects have been getting in the homes by kicking in the front door, but there have also been attempts to gain entry through a broken window. The amount of activity in a neighborhood has been little deterrence to the burglars.

"Anything can happen in a split second, and your life will change, and [all you can think is] thank goodness we weren't home," said Torres.

Flatscreen televisions, computers and similar electronic items have been taken, as well as smaller items such as cameras, laptops, jewelry, checks, cash and smaller electronics.

These burglaries have occurred not only in Cedar Park, but in jurisdictions that share close borders with Cedar Park neighborhoods, both in Williamson and Travis counties.

If you have any information on these burglaries, the Cedar Park Police Department Criminal Investigations wants you to call their tip-line at (512) 528-0867.