CLEARWATER - Residents of the Skycrest area filled a church hall Thursday night to hear about a monthlong string of burglaries in the neighborhood.
Authorities told them that one person - a composite drawing was circulated - is likely responsible for 16 break-ins in Clearwater since May 22, 10 of them in the Skycrest area, in central Clearwater.
Four people have seen the burglar and three residents have been at home during burglaries. Undercover police officers have swarmed over the neighborhood using surveillance cameras.
Other officers are checking pawnshops to look for loot.
"It may not be today, but we are going to get the guy," Clearwater Sgt. James Quinlan told the more than 75 Skycrest residents at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on S Saturn Avenue.
The crowd was generally pleased with the report on the investigation since the first burglary on Eastwood Drive.
They applauded when the police concluded.
"I think it's making great headway," said Skycrest resident Laura Daniel. "It's settling. Now we've got a picture. What more can you ask for?"
Quinlan said police have neither a name nor a fingerprint of the burglar.
Police know he wears white gloves or socks on his hands when he works. He is white, about 6 feet tall, weighs 170 to 200 pounds and has brown or blond hair, police reports say.
He is in his late 30s to early 40s and travels by foot or bicycle when he burglarizes a home.
He takes cash and small pawnable items, such as jewelry, watches or other things that can be carried in pockets, police said.
The serial burglar usually hits when there are no cars in the driveway, authorities have said. He strikes during the day, frequently before noon, usually by forcing open a door or window.
Clearwater Detective Kris Wise also told the group of two unrelated burglary arrests Wednesday.
Two teenage boys broke into two homes on Grove Street on Wednesday and were arrested later, Wise said. An adult woman was arrested in connection with the crime for pawning the stolen items.
Police believe those burglaries were unconnected to the others.
"We don't think it's our guy," Wise said.
The string of burglaries is unnerving to some.
Marcia Rudolph, a Skycrest resident, says she doesn't sleep much during the day, even though she works nights. She's too scared.
"It's very frightening," she said. "I never know when I will walk in my house and turn the lock. ... I hope somebody didn't jimmy the back lock."
Rudolph, who lives with her daughter and a roommate, said she and her neighbors watch each other's home and tell one another if anyone is going to stop by.
Rudolph, who lives near a recently burglarized home, says she has installed motion-activated lights and added locks to her gates. She said she and her neighbors are suspicious of everyone who comes around.
"It's really a horrible way to live," she said.
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call police at 562-4242.
