Dublin Police say they've seen a jump in thieves targeting both homes and vehicles in recent weeks. They want residents to be on the lookout for anything suspicious.
Tom Byrne showed us the damage from a break-in at his Dublin home 10 days ago.
He and his wife Pat came home from lunch with their grandson to find the back door pried open.
His upstairs office was ransacked.
"They went upstairs and they found my checkbook upstairs, which they stole," said Byrne.
His wife's jewelry drawer was raided.
"They were just a gift from my husband, but that made them special," said Pat Byrne of the rings that were stolen.
Worst of all, they say, their peaceful home of the last seven years had been invaded.
"I get goose pimples when I think about it, because it was a very safe place. It really was," said Tom.
Dublin Police say the Byrnes are not alone.
"We have seen an uptick in breaking and enterings and burglaries over the last week or so," said Dublin Police Chief Heinz von Eckartsberg.
He said there are similarities in the times, locations, and methods.
They've mostly happened in the eastern part of the city between Bridge Street and Brand Road, west of I-270, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
"We certainly are looking at them as being related in that they are occurring in a small geographic area and they're similar in nature. In other words, a lot of forced entry through front doors," the Police Chief said.
Along with the burglaries, vehicle break-ins have also jumped.
In every case, von Eckartsberg said, valuables were left in plain view.
"We've got a saying here 'like it, lock it'. If you've got stuff in your car that anybody can walk by and see, you're just inviting theft," he said.
Authorities are asking residents to be alert.
"Look out for suspicious people walking in neighborhoods, someone coming to your door asking for someone who doesn't live in your house, people sitting in cars on your street that you don't recognize," said von Eckartsberg.
The Byrnes hope no one else has to know the unease they now feel in their own home.
"I don't know. Secure? I don't think I'll ever feel the same way I did feel before that thing happened." Byrnes said.
Police said people should use an alarm at their home if they have one. Doors and windows should always remain locked. Police also recommended leaving the lights on at night.
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VIDEO CREDIT FOR THIS STORY: Debbie Bowen