ELPD Warns Residents to Lock Doors and Windows - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — The East Lansing Police Department is advising East Lansing residents to lock all doors and windows after a recent string of home invasions that occurred at apartments in the Northern Tier area last week.

Five apartments in three different complexes less than a mile from each other were targeted. They happened late Thursday night into the early morning hours on Friday.

The suspects entered the apartments through sliding glass doors of ground and second floor balconies, stayed for only 30 seconds and stole various items, including laptops and cash/credit cards.

"I defintely learned my lesson. From then on I, have kept my doors locked," said Autumn Prince. "I locked my keys in my apartment one day and I scaled my own balcony and luckily my glass door was open so I just went right in. And that's how easy I realized it was for somebody else."

All doors were unlocked and some were open during the break-ins.

"These are crimes of opportunity we have people that come in to town that are looking for this stuff in the middle of the night and if your door isn't unlocked or open at night, they're probably going to move on to the next apartment or next building until they can find one that is," said Lt. Scott Wriggelsworth with ELPD.

Anyone with information regarding the break-ins are asked to call the ELPD Tip Line at 1-877-ELPD-TIP.