Sheriff Bruce Bryant estimates half the home break-ins in areas near Fort Mill and Lake Wylie are committed by Charlotte thieves. York officials have found ways to fight back. In Gaston County, where the burglary rate is up 2 percent since 1995, officials are encouraging community watch groups to form. And police in Gaston say they monitor high break-in areas. Joe Momier of the Catawba County Sheriff's Office.
Burglars watch a home until they see residents leave for school or work, police say.
That surprised Shera Howard, who came home from work in August to find her door kicked in and her TV and radio gone. Kimberly Hales of northwest Charlotte locked her door, but didn't secure the dead bolt when she left for about four hours one summer afternoon. She came back to find the door kicked in and dresser drawers pulled out. Thieves stole heirloom jewelry and injured the family dog's paw. Staff writers Maki Becker, Jeff Diamant, Jonathan Dube and Jen Pilla contributed to this article.