Police in a waterfront New Jersey community across Manhattan are investigating at least two incidents in which thieves have gotten into homes, or tried to get in, by cutting the window screens.
Homeowners in the townhouse community in the Jacob's Ferry and Bulls Ferry complex in West New York say they're concerned after the incidents last weekend.
On Friday, someone broke into a home on Kingston Court while the resident was in a car in the garage, police said. And on Saturday, a family's home on Roslyn Drive had the screens cut before an 8-year-old pit bull mix at home scared off the would-be robbers before they could get inside.
"I think they got scared because she doesn't allow anyone by the window," said Kathy Vazquez, a babysitter who works at the home. "If they tried to break in, she stopped it."
Now residents say they are taking extra precautions this holiday season by locking their doors and installing security cameras.
"We're asking neighbors to keep any eye out," said neighbor Tina Aswani. "We are all banding together to stay safe."
"That's becoming pretty common, security systems and alarm systems," she added.
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West New York police are investigating whether the break-in and the attempted break-in are related.
Police Director Robert Antelos advised residents to "close your drapes, you don't want someone looking in, they can obviously tell if someone's home or not, especially this time of season with the Christmas tree up. You have presents under the tree, it's an opportunity to 'hey, nobody's home, let me come in and see what I can get.'"
Mayor Felix Roque says the area remains safe.
"You're talking about 50,000 residents and we're talking three [break-ins] in the last six months, so the odds are very small," he said.
The management company at Jacob's Ferry had no comment.
