CPD investigating early morning burglaries in Bearfield neighborhood

Two burglaries in a south Columbia neighborhood have residents on edge and warning others to be on the lookout.

Police said both burglaries happened in the 2400 block of Calder Court early Tuesday morning.

“We woke up around four o’ clock in the morning and I heard a loud bang on the door, somebody kicked it in and as soon as I came down they were gone,” said burglary victim Ashley Wilga. “They left the door wide open and they took my laptop and just bolted for it.”

Wilga said she’s glad her boyfriend Gregory Conley was there when it happened.

“It’s pretty sad that you can’t feel comfortable in your own home anymore, especially when you’re so young and it just happened to be only female households,” Wilga said. “Our neighbors had their windows wide open and they are males and they didn’t get hit, so it’s almost like, are we being watched?”

Wilga said her laptop was the only thing stolen. Police confirm electronics were stolen from the second home as well.

“We had all our doors locked, all our windows shut and they still found a way in,” Wilga said.

Police said the suspect or suspects gained entry into the second home through an open window.

Although Wilga is upset about the stolen laptop, she said things could be a lot worse.

“It’s better that they took my stuff and didn’t take my life,” she said.

Conley said he’s helped his girlfriend make some changes to the front door.

“We put some extra bracing on the door because it seemed pretty easy to just kick through,” he said.

Police said they canvassed the area for the suspect or suspects but didn’t find anyone.

They said the investigation is ongoing.