Cowley County Sheriff’s investigators believe a series of home burglaries in rural Udall is connected to similar incidents in Sedgwick, Butler and Sumner counties, undersheriff Bill Mueller said Wednesday.
Over the last two months, including this week, sheriff’s deputies have visited several homes in the northwest quarter of the county that seem similar. Each time, a person or persons struck during the daytime when no one was home.
Whomever is responsible forces entry into a home and usually makes off with electronic items and tools ? things that can be grabbed pretty quickly. Mueller said none of the victims loses too much property.
"But over time the value of the property taken begins to add up," he said.
So far, authorities have yet to identify a possible suspect but know that similar burglaries are happening in surrounding counties.
Residents in rural areas around Udall are asked to keep an eye out for vehicles or people that just don’t seem to belong in the area. Also, be aware of anyone approaching your property and asking odd questions or for directions, Mueller said.
There are some witness reports of people behaving oddly and approaching homeowners in the same areas where burglaries have occurred.
To provide information to investigators, call the sheriff’s office at 221-5444.
