Palo Alto police are investigating a rash of home burglaries in the area.
In the last month, police report 15 break-ins in the area south of the Oregon Expressway and Mountain View.
"Usually they'll go through an open or unlocked side gate," Sgt. Brian Phillip said. "(The burglars) approach houses that have open doors or windows."
Phillip said last Wednesday a man was seen leaving a home on the 3000 block of Cowper Street. A neighbor saw the man getting into a tan sedan with stolen goods in the middle of the day when no one was home.
"If you have an alarm, we want you to use it," Phillip said.
Investigators said they are not sure if the same man is responsible for 14 other burglaries in the same neighborhood reported in September.
"I'm kind of sad that it's happening," resident Tony Malizia said.
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Malizia in response to the burglaries has purchased locks for his side gate.
"It's too bad people will now be less friendly and more cautious with who is walking around," he said.
The recent string of burglaries have happened when no one was home, police said. Neighbors are hoping an arrest is made before that changes.
Police report burglaries in Palo Alto are slightly down when compared to last year, but the recent spike is a reason for concern.
