9 houses tented for fumigation burglarized in Laguna Woods

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif. (KABC) -- Nine homes in an Orange County independent living community were hit by burglars while they were tented for fumigation.

The homes were all on the same block in the senior community of nearly 20,000 in Laguna Woods and police said the crimes were discovered on Wednesday. Fourteen homes were tented and residents in nine of those homes reported missing property.

Detectives with the Orange County Sheriff's Department were working with security in Laguna Woods to review surveillance video to see if the burglars were caught on camera.

Deputies said burglars targeting a home while it's being fumigated is not too uncommon.

With that in mind, detectives had tips for those who will not be in a home for days at a time.

"Whether it's a group of apartments, whether it's one home, tell people where you're going, what you're doing, that your house is going to be unoccupied for a certain amount of time," Lt. Mark Stichter with the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.

If there's a neighborhood watch program, deputies said be sure to alert them as well.

If you have any information about the string of burglaries, you're urged to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6227.