Montgomery County police are reminding residents to keep their eyes and ears open for suspicious activity and secure their homes when they go on vacation in light of a recent string of residential burglaries in the Olney area.

Montgomery County police spokeswoman Officer Janelle Smith said all of the burglaries are under investigation, and it is not yet known whether they are related. No arrests have been made.

“Several happened within the same time frame, but there were different methods of entry and different things taken,” she said. “They may be related or they may not be, we are not sure at this time.”

The burglaries were as follows:

źOn June 10, 5600 block of Foggy Lane at 6:58 a.m. Forced entry, no property taken.

źOn June 10, 18000 block of Rocky Ridge Lane, between 11:25 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. Forced entry, property taken.

źOn June 10, 17800 block of Lafayette Drive at 3:09 p.m. No forced entry, unknown if property was taken.

ź16200 block of Batchellors Forest Road, between June 10 and June 12. Forced entry, no property taken.

źOn June 13, 5000 block of Tothill Drive, between 3:30 a.m. and 4:13 a.m. Unforced entry, property and cash taken.

źOn June 8, in the 18300 block of Bluebell Lane, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Smith said there was a second incident on June 24 at the home in the 5000 block of Tothill Lane.

“There is a known suspect, so an arrest will probably be made in this case,” she said. “These two are likely not related to the other incidents.”

Police spokeswoman Rebecca Innocenti said it is not unusual to see an increase in residential burglaries during the summer, because of vacations and students being out of school.

She reminds people to keep windows, doors and garage doors shut and locked.

“During the summer, when people are going to be away for an extended period of time, they should ask a neighbor to keep an eye on things and try to prevent it from looking like no one is home,” she said.

She suggests stopping mail and newspaper delivery, using timers for lights and asking neighbors to park their extra cars in empty driveways.

Innocenti also reminds people to report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

“Sometimes it is a real break-in, and other times it may just be a dog walker, but we always appreciate when neighbors call to report something suspicious,” she said.

John Dassoulas, crime analyst for the fourth police district, said it does not appear to be one group responsible for the burglaries, but items taken include video consoles, laptop computers, flat screen televisions and jewelry. He recommends recording serial numbers when available.

“This isn’t a widespread problem in the district, but there are pockets,” he said. “Olney is one pocket, and Aspen Hill is another. They don’t appear to be related.”

thogan@gazette.net