2 more daytime burglaries reported in Palm Bay

PALM BAY, Fla. — Two Palm Bay homes were burglarized Monday, one of them ransacked, and authorities said it could be related to a string of burglaries in which the thieves stuff goods into pillowcases.

Rita Rajapa told Channel 9 she was checking her sister's mail at her Nevada Avenue home when she found herself standing within 4 feet of one of the burglars.

Palm Bay police were wrapping up a separate burglary call on Americana Boulevard when the call came in.

"I hear glass broke, and I see this big body coming out the window," said Rajapa.

Rajapa said the thief was a clean-cut black man dressed in black slacks and a black T-shirt. She said he got into a silver car and drove off.

Last month, Palm Bay police issued a warning about a group of daytime burglars targeting empty homes in neighborhoods off Interstate 95. Usually, the crooks make entry through a back sliding-glass door.

"It sounds similar to the other burglaries we've had up and down the I-95 corridor," said Palm Bay police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez.

Police throughout the county are cooperating in an effort to catch the crooks.

Tom Colley believes the burglar responsible for a break-in on his street may have cased the neighborhood.

"When people come by, you look at them, and hopefully they don't come back," he said.

"It's not good to just come and steal from you. You work so hard," said Rajapa.

Palm Bay police said neighbors who spot anything suspicious should call police immediately.

WFTV