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Red Wing Police Investigating String Of Burglaries

RED WING, Minn. (WCCO) -- It is a river town that offers some of the best scenes of the summer. But this year, Red Wing Police have their hands full with a crime spree stealing some of the town's beauty.

Red Wing Police have received 54 burglary reports since June 1. Thieves have hit unlocked cars, homes and boats. Two arrests in the last few weeks haven't stopped it.

Bob Furchner said he believes a group has been casing homes in his neighborhood for weeks. He points out the homes that have been hit.

"Two right over there. One up the street and two around the corner then there's even two more," Furchner said.

Anita Ripley lives across the street. A couple of weeks ago she cracked her door open early one morning and went back to sleep. Someone walked in and swiped her purse and medications off of her kitchen counter.

"They must of just come right through the front doors," Ripley said. "It just scares you."

Beyond stealing anything in plain sight from unlocked homes and cars, boats docked at several marinas have also been hit. Even Red Wing's baseball fields have been a target. Someone broke into the concession stand stealing candy and beer only to come back a few days later and do it again.

So far, there haven't been any confrontations. But, Red Wing Police Captain Darold Glander worries that could change. Just two days ago, a thief got away with three shotguns from another home.

"We're really afraid something bad is going to happen," Captain Glander said.

People are living a little differently now, vacationing this summer from a carefree life.

"People work hard for what they have. They don't like it being stolen," Ripley said.

Red Wing Police have made two arrests in these cases in the last few weeks but that still hasn't stopped the crime spree.  Paul Mahoney, 56, was arrested for stealing items from boats.

Police said William Raley, 22, is responsible for some of the other thefts.  Police aren't sure if the cases have a connection at this point, but they're not ruling that out.

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