South District Detectives, working in conjunction with the Burglary Task Force, are seeking to identify and arrest those responsible for a string of recent burglaries.

Since the end of September there have been at least 26 such crimes in the South District. It is unknown how many may be connected, and descriptions of perpetrators vary in cases where criminals have been observed.

South District Detective Lieutenant Jane Stoklasa says there are two main geographical areas - south of the West Beltline - that have been hit. They include addresses on: Moorland Road, Rustic Parkway, Ashford Lane, Coho Street, Post Road, Bridge Road, and in the Arbor Hills Neighborhood.

Entry has been gained, in many cases, by removing window screens at the rear of homes. Criminals have then gotten in by lifting up unlocked windows. Doors have also been pried open. Others have been left unlocked. Thieves appear to be looking for jewelry, money, and electronics - like laptop computers.

Lt. Stoklasa says the other area where a number of burglaries have occurred is the Fisher/Baird Neighborhood. These crimes mostly have involved entry into both unlocked and locked garages. Tools and yard equipment have been stolen.

The latest crime took place last night, October 21, 2008, around 10:50 p.m. in the 1100 block of Moorland Road. A husband and wife were in their living room watching TV when they saw their unlocked patio door open. The vertical blinds were pulled and the suspected burglar likely did not realize people were home. The couple chased the perpetrator away. He is described as a male, Latino, 18 years old, 5'3", 120 lbs., wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

In another case, on October 12, 2008, a homeowner in the 3300 block of Westview Lane came home at 2:46 p.m., to find two burglars inside her home. One had a laptop computer under an arm. A flat screen TV had been unplugged and placed by a back patio door. The perpetrators fled as the homeowner spotted them. One is described as a male, black, 14-15 years old, 5'10", 145 lbs., wearing a white t-shirt, and dark baggy blue jeans. The other is described as a male, black, 5'5", 135 lbs., 14-15 years old, wearing a white t-shirt, and dark baggy blue jeans.

Many burglaries have taken place during daylight hours, on different days of the week.

These cases continue to be of concern to the Madison Police Department. The Burglary Task Force remains very active, arresting many suspects. Yet, despite law enforcement efforts residential burglary numbers - citywide - continue to grow. Between January and September of this year (2008) there have been 1295. During that same time frame last year (2007) there were 1208, and in 2006 - from January to September - there were 1043.