A series of burglaries took place on Mercer Island during the weeks prior to Christmas, and the majority were scattered over the North end. As of Dec. 27, a total of 13 reported burglaries occurred during the month of December, up from six burglaries the previous month.

“Burglaries have been up all year, not only on Mercer Island, but all over the Puget Sound region,” MIPD Commander Leslie Burns said. “There are several loose ‘gangs’ of people committing the burglaries and, unfortunately, we are not immune to them.”

See the map here.

Dec. 6

Someone entered a residence by breaking in through the back sliding glass door in the 8400 block of S.E. 36th Street, near the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, between 8:20 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. A significant amount of heirloom jewelry was stolen, including white gold diamond earrings and a white gold diamond ring. Fingerprints were lifted for evidence.

Dec. 10

A home under construction in the 4000 block of 83rd Avenue S.E., a block east of Homestead Field, was burglarized sometime after Dec. 7. Boxes of Cat5 computer cable (low voltage wiring) — 500 feet in length — worth $100 each were stolen, along with Velux skylights and flashing kits worth $500 each, a 50-amp spider electrical box. The house did not yet have doors or windows installed and was therefore unsecured.

Burglars broke into a home in the 4300 block of 92nd Avenue S.E., several blocks east of Rotary Park, between 11:15 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., and the alarm was not activated. The suspects broke through a sliding glass window in the back of the house. Prescription medications, a digital camera and several jewelry items were stolen, and the loss was $3,800.

Dec. 11

A rolling tool tote bag was stolen out of a 35-year-old man’s storage closet at the Shorewood Apartments in the 9000 block of East Shorewood Drive sometime after Nov. 15. The bag contained multiple hand tools and a drill.

Dec. 12

Burglars entered a home in the 9800 block of Mercerwood Drive through an upper level window sometime between 8 a.m. and 8:05 p.m. The window was not broken, but an interior screen was pushed out. The burglars targeted the master bedroom, stealing $50 in change, a silver wedding band, Wii game system, watches and a backpack. The window screen has been placed into MIPD evidence for fingerprints.

Someone threw a rock through a 2-by-8-foot window of a home in the 8400 block of S.E. 47th Street between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The window was next to a sliding glass door in the back of the house. Cash was stolen along with pain medication, Nordstrom and J.C. Penny credit cards, an emerald/diamond ring, bracelet and costume jewelry. A kitchen wall was damaged.

Dec. 14

A secured construction site in the 4600 block of 88th Avenue S.E., in a neighborhood west of Ellis Pond, was burglarized overnight. A variety of tools worth $780 were stolen, including a ladder and ladder extension, Roto-hammer and crowbar. One witness was present. A forced entry was not evident.

Dec. 15

A 69-year-old woman’s keys were stolen out of her vehicle during a car prowl in Seattle, and the thief used the keys to enter the victim’s home in the 4300 block of 90th Avenue S.E., a block east of Rotary Park. The victim discovered the burglary when she returned home six hours later at 11:25 p.m. The burglar(s) stole two drawers out of the master bedroom containing jewelry and other items. An opened pack of Marlboro cigarettes was taken into MIPD evidence.

Dec. 16

A home in the 3500 block of 84th Avenue S.E., on a hill above I-90, was burglarized sometime between 12:50 and 1:20 p.m. Two witnesses saw a red Nissan pickup, with two male occupants, parked next to the residence, at the intersection of S.E. 35th Street and 84th, around 1:15 p.m. The truck left quickly. The witnesses described one of the suspects as a man in his 20s with a goatee. The suspects threw a rock through the master bedroom French door window to gain access. Jewelry was stolen, including pearl and amethyst earrings, a wristwatch and charm bracelet.

Dec. 20

Police responded to a burglary in the 6700 block of 81st Avenue S.E., west of Pioneer Park, where someone broke the back door window with a rock and stole jewelry and electronic items sometime between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Stolen items included a set of pearl necklaces, metal bracelets, cameo broach, gold rings, 200 euros, an iPod, Dell computer, Macbook laptop, Microsoft Surface X2 and checkbook. Green rubber gloves were taken into evidence. A double-paned glass door was destroyed and the house alarm was not activated.

Dec. 23

Sometime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., a house was burglarized in the Lakes neighborhood, in the 7400 block of 80th Place S.E., while the residents were gone. A rock had been thrown through a window of the back garage door, and the door was then unlocked for entry. Jewelry and an iPad were stolen. Fingerprints were lifted for evidence.