After a several-week hiatus, Davis’ so-called “cat burglar” series appears to be active again.

Davis police say the suspect or suspects who take advantage of unlocked doors and windows to steal property while residents are fast asleep struck two West Davis apartment complexes and two homes earlier this week.

Three of the burglaries occurred early Monday morning at the University Court Apartments, 545 Sycamore Lane, while three others were reported that same day on Glacier Drive and Pinnacles Street in West Davis and Diego Place in North Davis, Lt. Paul Doroshov said.

At UC Davis, similar burglaries occurred Wednesday morning at one of the Cuarto residence halls and at The Colleges at La Rue earlier this month.

Spokesmen for the Davis and UCD police departments say they all appear to be related to the “cat burglar” break-ins that have plagued the community since early this year.

“These are very scary crimes,” said Lt. Matt Carmichael at UCD, where 19 burglaries have occurred since early January. “The rule of thumb is (burglary) suspects don’t want you there. Yet these suspects prey during the hours when you are at home.”

Their take, police say, includes high-end property such as laptop computers, televisions, iPods, video game systems, jewelry and cash.

Doroshov said the burglars woke two people early Monday while removing screens from unlocked or open windows — one at about 3:30 a.m. at the Saratoga West Apartments at 2121 Glacier Drive, and another about 15 minutes later and a mile away at a Pinnacles Street home.

The residents reported seeing two dark-skinned males in their mid-20s fleeing the scenes. Their descriptions ranged from being 5-foot-8 with a slender build to 5-foot-10 to 6 feet tall and about 250 pounds.

Earlier reports of white and Asian suspects breaking into the occupied residences have police considering the possibility that there are different suspects behind the crimes.

“It would be foolish for us to focus in and say this is all being done by one group,” Doroshov said.

Anyone with information about the burglary series is asked to call the Davis Police Department at (530) 747-5400, or UCD police at (530) 752-1230.

If you suspect a burglar is in your home, don’t risk a confrontation, Doroshov said. Find a safe place and call 911.

Brendan Quane, a 20-year-old Sacramento City College student who lives at the University Court Apartments, said Wednesday his neighbor was one of this week’s burglary victims.

He said although he’s been a crime victim himself — his bike was stolen from the complex several months ago — he doesn’t fear for his safety. The complex is protected by wrought-iron gates that require a code for entry.

“But I could see how people would feel less safe,” Quane said. “Whoever is doing this has got (guts).”

City and campus police continue to urge residents to keep their windows and doors locked at night. If you keep a window open for ventilation, police suggest investing in a rail lock that would prevent an intruder from opening it wide enough to climb through.

“We’ve worked very hard at educating our community,” Carmichael said. “It really does come down to locking your doors and windows. We really don’t know what else to say.”

— Reach Lauren Keene at [email protected] or (530) 747-8048.

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