Several dozen Lawrence residents have had the unsettling experience recently of discovering that burglars had entered their homes and stolen their property while they slept. In a few cases, residents have had the even more unsettling experience of being awakened at night to find an intruder in their homes.

Two suspects were arrested last week and charged in connection with some recent burglaries, and officers had hoped those arrests would end the string of local burglaries that has plagued Lawrence since June. However, two additional aggravated burglaries earlier this week indicate that other intruders are involved. The latest incidents also provide a reminder of the importance of taking precautions and keeping an eye on your own property as well as that of your neighbors.

Police have been warning local residents for weeks to make sure their doors and garage doors are closed and locked at night. That’s a common sense precaution that will provide at least a modest deterrent to home intruders. Unfortunately, despite those warnings, one or more burglars have continued to gain access to homes and escape with various goods, including two handguns in one recent incident. In some cases, entry to the houses was made through unlocked doors or garage doors, but in this week’s burglaries, there was evidence of forced entry.

Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in connection with any of the intrusions, but the loss of property and personal security takes a toll on the burglary victims. Unfortunately, even if police are able to solve the most recent cases, these will not be the last burglaries in Lawrence. The best defense now and in the future is for individuals to lock their doors, keep a watchful eye and urge their neighbors to do the same.