Police have been on high alert over the past week after seven burglaries in the Breese Terrace and Lathrop Street area.
The burglaries are unusual, according to Ald. Robbie Webber, District 5, and Public Information Officer Mike Hanson, because the area is generally seen as safe.
'Residential burglaries do happen downtown,' Hanson said, 'but what's interesting about this is it's high frequency in a short amount of time, in one very specific location.'
A mixture of student residences and single-family homes have been burglarized, Webber said.
Webber said stolen items include wallets, change, liquor, food and more expensive things like iPods, an MP3 player, a laptop and a camcorder.
'To me,' Webber said, 'it seems somebody is grabbing whatever they can find.'
According to Hanson, the perpetrator is gaining access to homes and buildings through unlocked doors and windows, smashed windows and, in one instance, a faulty back-door lock.
Webber and Hanson are hoping to raise awareness of suspicious activity and people, as well as the non-locking policy many residents of the campus area seem to have.
'Sometimes people feel so safe they don't lock their doors,' Webber said.
Unlocked doors and windows are not the only problem the neighborhood faces, as unlocked cars and unfamiliar people showing up at parties are also part of the problem. A host not knowing everyone at a party can grant potential thieves the opportunity to steal, Webber said, citing confusion as part of the plan to gain access to the residence.
Webber said the same area saw a score of car burglaries several weeks ago, with most incidents involving the search for CDs in unlocked cars.
'These are not professionals,' Webber said. 'This is somebody looking for stuff that's easily accessible in a house that is not well secured.'
While none of the injured parties could identify the burglar, the investigation is progressing.
'We have received some useful information based on evidence left at the scene and some help from some people,' Hanson said.
Ald. Austin King, District 8, represents Madison's other strongly student resident area. He shared Webber's opinion of the need for tightened security.
'It's important for people, whether or not you're home, to keep your windows and doors locked,' King said.
As the search for a suspect continues, the police are urging residents to be aware of suspicious activity and people, telling them to report anything as soon as possible.
'And,' Webber said, 'to lock their doors.'
