Pennycross Burglars

A duo of burglars targeted Pennycross homes without alarm systems while Georgia and Sid were searching for Sid's true identity and murderer. The burglars did so to benefit the locksmithing business one of the burglars was employed at.

## Sequential History

### A Skeleton In The Family

Dr. Jocasta Kirkland is found dead and it is theorized that her death was murder and related to the rash of break-ins. It is thought that the burglars had broken in thinking the house was empty, then killed Jocasta when they discovered her. If they rang the doorbell or knocked before breaking in, Jocasta was likely too immersed in her work to notice, even if the dog had barked. The burglars stole Jocasta's jewelry box and the money out of her wallet, which was dropped on the floor next to her pocketbook. However, Sid and Madison later conclude that it wasn't burglars who killed Jocasta. It is later revealed that Jim Michaels killed her.

The burglars were accused of breaking into the McQuaid adjunct office and assaulting Charles. The burglars supposedly got into the building by breaking the lock on a door usually only used by kitchen and staff janitors, then only interfered with the adjunct office. Georgia's desk was among those searched. The adjunct office was undamaged because it had been left unlocked. In reality, Jim Michaels did this break-in.

The burglars are also accused of breaking into the Thackery house. The burglar seemed to have started on the second floor. He opened every bedroom closet, the linen closet, and even the cedar chest filled with winter blankets in the hall. The TV in Georgia's parents' room and Madison's computer and stereo were still in place. Everything else, such as Georgia's jewelry box, were well-hidden and untouched. He didn't make it to the first floor to search. Raymond says the burglar is unlikely to come back. Deborah scoffs at Raymond's suggestion that the person who broke into the Thackery house were NOT the same ones who broke into Jocasta's house and killed her, as this insinuates that there are two burglary rings. Louis was trying not to scare Madison; he seems to think that there is only one burglary ring. When the two unnamed officers who accompanied him return, they report that the neighbors saw one man running away in the daytime. The other jobs were two-men jobs with a vehicle during the night. Raymond therefore thinks this burglar was merely taking advantage of what he thought to be an empty house. Georgia worries what might have happened if Madison had surprised the burglar. In reality, Jim Michaels did this break-in too. It is revealed that the real burglars had an alibi for the afternoon the Thackery house was broken into: they were installing a system at a house across town, and the homeowner was with them the whole time.

Over the course of the book, they hit eleven houses, according to Deborah. Subtracting Jocasta Kirkland's house's break-in, the adjunct office break-in, and the Thackery house break-in, it was only eight.

The real burglars are caught breaking into a house on Wannamaker Lane by the cops. It was two guys with a van, and when the cops searched the van, they found loot from previous break-ins. Kids playing outside saw the burglars and called 911. It is here revealed that one of the burglars works for a locksmith. Not only was he making money by selling what he stole, but his business did better with each break-in. Targets were chosen by checking the database to find out which houses didn't have alarms, rob them, then later call to nearby houses to try and sell alarm systems.

The burglars have a lawyer, and Georgia hopes that their lawyer will be able to prove that the burglars couldn't have been responsible for Jocasta's murder.