Lawrence police have arrested four people in connection with a string of break-ins and thefts overnight Thursday in west Lawrence.

Tyler Snipes, 18, of Lawrence, Michael Dale Eller, 20, of LaCynge, and Stephan Thompson, 21, and Stafan Davis, 21, both of Parker, were arrested at different locations throughout the night, the first shortly after midnight near the 3700 block of Stetson Drive.

Police were called about 12:20 a.m. to a house burglary in progress in that block. The residents were asleep on the second floor when they heard someone trying to get into their house, according to Sgt. Trent McKinley, a Lawrence police spokesman. A resident went downstairs, saw the silhouette of someone standing outside the kitchen window and called police. Officers arrived in the neighborhood, approached on foot and found a person fleeing the area. The suspect was arrested, police said, as he attempted to hide in a vehicle. A second suspect was arrested near the vehicle a short time later.

Officers said the suspects had cut screens and had broken a basement window at the home. Police believe the suspects were connected to a burglary in the home next door, where an iPhone and other property were stolen. A resident in that home said she was awakened by her dog barking. When she entered her living room and turned on the light, she saw a man in the room, McKinley said. She yelled and the man fled.

As police investigated the items the suspects had, they linked some of the items to a home in the 300 block of Sharon Drive. Officers went to that home and found it had been broken into. No one was home at the time. Police say the suspects stole two computers, cash and other items. Officers also found a garage door opener that they determined had come from a vehicle in the 300 block of Stockade. Police contacted the vehicle’s owner and determined the opener was stolen during a break-in of the vehicle. Police have not determined if the opener was used to enter that person’s home, McKinley said.

About 4 a.m. another resident in the 3800 block of Sierra Court reported that someone had attempted to enter a side door of his home. The resident armed himself with a handgun and called police, McKinley said, and the suspect fled.

Shortly thereafter an officer in the area arrested a man in the 3800 block of Overland Drive who was attempting to break into a vehicle, McKinley said.

The fourth suspect was located just before 7 a.m. near the Hy-Vee in the 4000 block of West Sixth Street. He attempted to flee, McKinley said, and was arrested after a lengthy foot chase.

The investigation is ongoing, McKinley said, and anyone with relevant information should call the Lawrence Police Department at 785-832-7509 or CrimeStoppers at 785-843-8477.

Operation 100 News first reported this story.