By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - After a series of home burglaries in an upscale subdivision off Tylersville Road at Interstate 75, police stepped up patrols and warned neighbors to secure their homes before leaving town for the holidays.

Between Thanksgiving and Tuesday, three homes in the Ivory Hills subdivision were burglarized - and the losses have been substantial, police records show and victims say.

In one home, bandits made off with a locked safe holding $29,000 in cash and jewelry. A handgun and $25,000 in cash and jewelry were taken from another home.

"It's put the whole neighborhood on edge," said one of the victims, who did not want her name released for safety reasons. "This is just totally bizarre."

Someone attempted to break into a fourth home via the back door sometime Monday, but fled after setting off an alarm.

West Chester police said they had no suspects and little physical evidence.

But because the burglaries are concentrated in one area, they think the culprit or culprits are local.

"We have a typical amount of burglaries every year, but usually they are spread out," Sgt. Steve Oakes said.

"That's what makes this so unusual. But when somebody seems to stick around and keeps committing crimes in one place, they are usually from that area."

In November, two homes were broken into, including one where there was no forced entry, but the owners say they locked all their doors and windows before leaving the state for the Thanksgiving holiday.

When they returned the Sunday after Thanksgiving, they discovered a safe missing from a walk-in closet that had held thousands of dollars in pricey jewelry and $17,000 in cash - including $2,000 the victim had been saving for Christmas gifts.

The rest of the cash, she said, she was socking away to surprise her husband with a trip for their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary.

"I just about threw up and couldn't eat for four days," said the 46-year-old victim. "In hindsight now, I know it wasn't smart to keep that much cash and jewelry in the house.

"This is something that will never leave me now, the fact that someone came into my house, went straight to my closet and took one thing and walked out. I want to know who did this. It's devastating."

Police have told the woman they think she most likely knew the burglar, since there was no forced entry in the home, which did not have a security system.

A second home was burglarized the day after Thanksgiving, police records showed.

A Smith & Wesson handgun and $25,000 in cash and jewelry were taken.

In the latest burglary, a home was ransacked Monday or Tuesday after someone threw a rock through the living-room window. Costume jewelry was taken, according to police records.

"If you are going out of town for several days, lock your doors and windows and contact neighbors and have them keep an eye on your house," Sgt. Oakes said. "Stop your newspaper and mail."

The West Chester Police Department conducts vacation checks - extra patrols - upon request. Call 777-2231.