Davis police say a recent rash of daytime residential burglaries may be linked to a ruse in which the suspect first knocks to determine whether anyone is at home.
Lt. Paul Doroshov said the Police Department has received several reports of a suspicious person knocking on the door and asking for someone who doesn’t live at the house — including an occurrence on Wednesday in which the person asked for “Jerry.”
Within two hours of that incident, two nearby homes on Temple Place in East Davis were burglarized, the window screens cut and the homes ransacked.
Doroshov said there have been 15 similar burglaries in the city since July 3, with electronics and jewelry being the main items stolen. The thief or thieves have entered through first-floor windows that have been left unlocked or broke through them forcibly.
“We’re deducing that he’s checking the houses to see if anybody’s home,” Doroshov said of the suspect, described as a light-skinned black male, 25 to 30 years old, standing about 6 feet tall with longer hair. He may have been seen driving a white, newer-model sedan.
Police have not ruled out the possibility that others are involved in the scheme as well, Doroshov said.
Doroshov said residents should lock all their doors and windows when they leave the house and report any suspicious activity to the Police Department at 530-747-5400. Anyone who believes their home security systems may have obtained additional video of the suspect in this case is asked to report that as well.