Several weekend thefts and two Monday morning burglaries appear to be the latest in a string of similar incidents that have plagued the Brookhaven area for two weeks now, authorities said.

     Monday morning burglaries on West Chickasaw Street and on North Jackson Street were reported to the Brookhaven Police Department, said Assistant Police Chief Bobby Bell.

     The Chickasaw burglary is believed to have occurred between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. and the North Jackson Street burglary between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Stolen items from the two homes included an iPad and some handguns, Bell said.

     These burglaries come on the heels of reported thefts on Sunday from Becker Street and West Chickasaw Street. Bell said some boards were stolen on West Chickasaw Street and some tools were stolen off of a truck on Becker Street.

     The week before, a string of burglaries occurred between Saturday, Dec. 1 and Tuesday, Dec. 4. Burglaries were reported on Hartman Street, West Minnesota Street and Ripley Road.

     Police Chief Pap Henderson said those burglaries might be connected because of similarities between the crimes. At each home, either a door was kicked in or burglars entered through a back window, Henderson said.

     Whether the Sunday thefts or Monday burglaries might be connected to each other or the previous week’s incidents, Bell couldn’t say.

     “We don’t know if it’s the same person,” Bell said. “Only thing we know, we’re having some (burglaries) right now.”

     There are some leads in the investigation.

     “We have several clues we’re following up on,” Bell said.

     However, he declined to elaborate on those clues or to say whether police have any suspects in any of the burglaries.

     Bell, like Henderson, did emphasize that residents need to ensure their homes and cars are locked.

     He also said the cooperation of the public can greatly assist law enforcement.

     If residents see any suspicious vehicles or people in their neighborhood, Bell said they should report them to the police.

     “What we need is neighbors watching out for each other,” Bell said. “The police department is doing a lot of riding, but we need people to watch out.”