BATH — Police are investigating a series of daytime burglaries throughout the city.

The string of incidents began March 22, the Police Department reported last week. While some of the burglaries were concentrated in the south end of the city, others took place in a wider area.

One home was vacant when burglarized, and four of them were unlocked or had no sign of forced entry. The burglar or burglars entered one home using a key that had been hidden beneath a doormat, and doors were kicked in at homes on Washington and lower High streets.

Items taken have included two laptop computers, copper piping and medications. In three cases, although homes were entered and items moved, nothing was stolen.

“They’re looking for something that they can grab,” Lt. Stan Cielinski said on Wednesday. “… It’s usually what they can take, that has some immediate value to them.”

An Acer laptop computer was stolen from a Middle Street apartment on March 22. Two days later, a white man was interrupted while trying to steal copper from a vacant Mitchell Road home, and medication was stolen from a Central Avenue apartment.

The robberies picked up again on April 14, when a door to a lower High Street home was kicked open. Although items were moved around, nothing was stolen. The same day, a door to a lower Washington Street home was kicked open, but no items were found missing.

On April 15 a woman returned home to find her Ledgeview Lane apartment door closed, but the latch was not engaged. Police said the lock could have easily been disengaged by sliding a plastic card through. Three different prescription narcotics were missing.

The next day, a Hewlett Packard laptop computer was taken from a home in the 1000 block of High Street. The suspect or suspects were apparently able to enter with a key hidden under a doormat.

An unlocked Western Avenue home was entered on April 18, and house keys were taken and other items moved around.

Bath Police Lt. Stan Cielinski said other burglaries have been reported to his department. “We’ve got some things to work on; some suspicions,” he said.

People with information leading to those responsible for the burglaries can reach Bath’s criminal investigation division at 443-8367. In the meantime, the department encourages residents to lock their doors and windows – even during the day while they are at home – and to call police if they see suspicious activities or people in their neighborhood.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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