Additional Rittenhouse Square burglaries

Philadelphia police say burglars have worked their way into two more homes in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, bringing the number of center city break-ins this month to 15.

Philadelphia police say burglars have worked their way into two more homes in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, bringing the number of center city break-ins this month to 15. [audio:100224MPBURGLARY.mp3]

The latest in the string of daytime burglaries took place this week early in the afternoon when burglars broke down two apartment doors in a complex on 20th and Spruce Streets.

Philadelphia Police Captain Dennis Wilson says these crimes are happening in the same area, at the same time, and the burglars seem to be taking the same types of items, such as laptops and jewelry.

Wilson: One of the good things about this burglary is that a resident came home shortly after the burglary. We had given a flier to that property the day before, letting them know there were burglaries. When she walked in, she saw wood chips on the ground and noticed the door kicked in and immediately called 9-1-1 which was really good.

Police are looking for a man identified through a surveillance video who they believe is tied to at least one of these crimes. He’s been identified as 52-year-old Richard Brown.