SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The numbers for burglary reports are up in Longwood and in Altamonte Springs. Police agencies in Seminole County told Channel 9's Karla Ray that they are sharing information about those burglaries with each other in an effort to try to solve the crimes more quickly.
Channel 9 was there as Casselberry police caught Francisco Dipi and Rachel Higgins -- both accused of breaking into an Avalon Boulevard home in broad daylight.
Neighbor Norma Boyles helped track them down.
"This is the first time it's happened so close to home," said Boyles.
Police and deputies said they have been able to tie the pair to a dozen other burglaries in Seminole County.
They said the two are an example of a growing problem in the county.
According to figures obtained by Channel 9, Casselberry has seen an 11 percent increase in car, residential and business burglaries over the last six months compared to the prior six.
In Longwood, there have been 41 more burglaries in the last six months than the prior six months -- a 36 percent increase.
In Altamonte Springs, numbers have spiked in the last three months -- 125 burglaries compared to just 85 in the three months prior.
Police said that most burglars don't just break into homes on a whim. They said that in many cases, the burglars have hit other places. Police said that's one reason agencies are comparing arrests to see if people caught in one city could be connected to crimes in other parts of the county.
Boyles said she hopes the burglaries will level off as police continue to work across jurisdictional lines.
"It was scary, because it could've been our house, too," said Boyles.
Sanford has by far the most burglaries of any city in Seminole County -- around 400 for both the last six months and the six months prior to that.
Police are urging people to call them if they hear or see anything suspicious, because some of the crimes are happening in the middle of the day.
WFTV
