LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - Dozens of stolen appliances have now been found by police.
Police say thieves are targeting homes with "For Sale" signs. They break into the vacant houses and steal the appliances.
Kelley Ledford says, "Just watch out. I know my husband always thinks I'm a nosy neighbor, but I'm a light sleeper and this is a quiet neighborhood. You normally don't hear cars at four in the morning."
Ledford says a couple weeks ago she let her dog out in the middle of the night and she knew something wasn't right.
She says, "She ran out in the yard and started barking ferociously towards my neighbor's house and it freaked me out. I thought someone or something was out there to the point that I was peering through the windows, but I couldn't see anything. If I would have walked out on my deck, I might have seen them."
At a home on Wolf Pen Woods Drive, thieves broke in from the back door and stole the appliances. The kitchen now sits empty with no stove or refrigerator. Police say the stove and fridge are worth $1300.
Police have alerted Louisville Area realtors about the string of burglaries at homes for sale in Wolf Pen and Hurstbourne areas. They believe the thieves had toured the homes beforehand.
Det. Todd McMichael with LMPD says, "I would say people do have their guard down out here. They believe they could still go out to the store and leave their doors unlocked."
McMichael is also reminding homeowners to close their garages. Thefts in the area have also been reported because people keep garage doors open. Police are asking realtors to report any suspicious behavior seen while showing homes.
And for the house broken into on Wolf Pen Woods Drive, the realty company is changing the lock system and is reminding all realtors to pre qualify their potential buyers, so they know who they're working with.
Ledford says, "I just thought how terrible and awful and pretty gutsy as well to steal some major appliances."
Police say 26 stolen appliances were found in a storage unit in PRP. Detectives are reviewing reports to locate victims associated with the appliances. Police say right now, no one has been charged.
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