Bangor police are investigating seven burglaries reported this morning at homes in which five of the homeowners were there, asleep in their beds. Items that were stolen range from cash to a television set.

Sgt. Catherine Rumsey said in a press release that it appears the burglaries happened between 10:30pm and 5:30am during the December 8th-9th overnight. They occurred on Wiley Street, Holland Street and Thomas Hill Road. Entry to the homes was made in a variety of ways and, mostly, cash was stolen from wallets and purses kept near the entryway.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to call the Bangor Police Department's tip line at 947-7384, ext. 6.

Rumsey went on to say, in the press release that,although there is no guaranteed way to prevent becoming a victim of a burglary there are a few precautions people should take. Be sure to keep your doors and windows locked at all times, including when you're in the house. Install outdoor lighting and consider deadbolts, if you don't already have them.

Alarm systems are also a great idea. Rumsey said even if you can't afford to have a sophisticated system monitored by a security company, a simple system that you can install yourself can be effective. An alarm that sounds when someone tries to gain entry would alert you to an intruder, and could cause the burglar to flee.

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