Daytime burglaries in Columbia neighborhood raises concern

A string of brazen burglaries has an East Columbia neighborhood one high alert.

At least three break-ins have happened within the last month in the East Ridge Park neighborhood off of St. Charles Road. All of the burglaries have happened in the middle of the day.

Neighbors said the neighborhood is typically safe and quiet.

It was quiet again Tuesday afternoon, just hours after at least the third burglary. But the broken glass on the ground and the shattered window told the story of what happened earlier Tuesday.

“It’s pretty shocking because they’ve all happened in broad daylight,” resident Scott Kasa said.

The house broken into Tuesday was actually broken into twice. In each of the at least three burglaries, the suspect or suspects got in through a downstairs bedroom window. The houses were similar because they were in the back row of the neighborhood, on the end, backing up to woods.

Police haven’t released any information about the investigation, but neighbors told ABC 17 the suspects may live in the neighborhood across the street because a handyman recently chased off people attempting to break in to one of the East Ridge Park houses and the people ran into a home there.

While the suspect or suspects remain on the loose, residents said they are taking extra precautions.

“I talked to my roommates and we started locking things more, keeping a watchful eye out,” Kasa said.

If you have any information, call Crimestoppers at 573-875-TIPS.