3 burglaries occur in one neighborhood

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - It was a relaxing 10-day vacation for Saurabh Bagchi and his family, but when they returned home Wednesday night, reality set in. That reality wasn't what Bagchi remembered leaving behind.

"The first thing that was suspicious was the upstairs light was on, and I was pretty sure I had turned all the lights off when I left," said Bagchi. "Then when I went upstairs, I saw three rooms were really a mess, with drawers having been pulled out."

Bagchi said the family had jewelry, a laptop computer and a video camera taken from their home.

He said while the family was shaken up that an outsider had entered their home, the most emotional thing was getting things taken that could never be returned.

"The worst thing is that has all the pictures and videos of your kids' birthdays and stuff," said Bagchi. "That's not nice."

Bagchi said the burglar gained entry into the home by throwing a rock through a downstairs window.

West Lafayette Police Sgt. Cindy Marion said Bagchi's home is just one of three in the Amberleigh Village Subdivision that have been burglarized in the month of January.

Marion said all three burglaries seem to have one thing in common.

"These aren't being done during the daylight hours (or) when people are home," said Marion. "These are being done in residences where the residents are gone for an extended period of time."

Bagchi said they locked their doors and took every security precaution possible before leaving on vacation, but sometimes that's not enough. He said sometimes, your best defense, can actually be your neighbor.

"Have a security system and have the neighbors come in every once in a while to check up on it," said Bagchi.

"It's important for the neighbors to get to know each other," said Marion. "Your neighbors can be a big help, by letting them know you're going to be gone, so that they can keep an eye on your house, and can also know there shouldn't be lights on there, or what lights would be on. That way, if there is something suspicious, they can call us. We'll be happy to go and check."

Marion said before you leave to go out of town, check the outside of your home. She said chances are, if you can find a way in, so can someone else.

If you have any information on these burglaries, you are asked to contact the WeTip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.