Police are alerting the public to a recent rash of overnight burglaries in northern Silver Spring. In two of the cases, authorities said, the culprits carried out the thefts while the home’s residents were there asleep.

According to Montgomery County Police spokeswoman Lucille Bauer, officers have responded to four residential burglaries and one attempted burglary in the neighborhoods of White Oak, Springbrook and Fairland over the past three weeks.

Bauer said the brash tactic is not unheard of in Montgomery County, but that police are trying to get the word out to families to lock up at all times and be aware of these latest crimes.

“It’s less that we’re really concerned, and more that we see a need to let the community know this is going on so they can take action to protect themselves,” she told The Examiner on Wednesday.

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The first reported overnight burglary, on Aug. 2 in the 12400 block of Greenhill Road, occurred when the assailant entered through a side window.

Bauer said one family member had just arrived home and saw the burglars inside yet was unable to give a description.

One week later, someone broke through the rear screen door to enter an unoccupied home on the 2800 block of Cornett Court in Tanglewood.

According to reports, another burglary of an unoccupied home was reported on the 3900 block of Bryant Park Circle. But residents were inside Aug. 14 when someone tried to rob a house on the 700 block of Springlock Road and when someone broke into a residence on the 1000 block of McCeney Avenue on Aug. 15.

It hasn’t been determined whether the crimes are linked or whether there is one burglar or many to blame, Bauer said.

Anyone with information on the crimes can call police 301-565-5835.

ASSESS YOUR RISK

To have Montgomery County officers do a walk-through of your home, call your district police station. For Silver Spring, the number is 301-565-7744.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com