Residents are urged to be vigilant as distraction burglars have targeted at least two homes recently, and police continue to investigate other potential incidents.
On Friday afternoon on Bill Drive in East Cocalico Township, a man ransacked a home after luring a female occupant to come outside.
Also Friday afternoon in nearby Spring Township, across the Berks County line, a similar burglary was reported: an occupant was lured outside, and the home was burglarized.
A short Hispanic male with a mustache was involved in that crime, on Old Lancaster Pike. A second person stayed in a vehicle, described as a clean white Dodge or Chrysler minivan.
Two males also were seen in the Bill Drive incident.
The suspect who came to that door told the female occupant he needed to inspect her property because he was building a fence for a neighbor.
While outside, the house was ransacked.
In the Spring Township case, while outside, the suspect told the occupant he needed to get a tape measure and that he would come right back. He never did.
The woman went inside and noticed a bedroom was ransacked: a safe had been opened and $250 was stolen from a dresser.
Anyone with information about the men, or anyone who was a victim, should contact East Cocalico Township police at 717-336-1725.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright