A recent number of residential breaking and entering crimes have the Marion Mattapoisett and Rochester Police Departments on alert and issuing caution.

In Mattapoisett, Police Chief Mary Lyons said that there have been five house break-ins in town over the last two weeks.

The Marion Police have seen two break-ins in just the past week, in addition to an attempted break-in at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church on Front Street.

In each case, the burglars stole mostly jewelry from the homes, which were all close to, if not located on Route 6.

Rochester Police Chief Paul Magee said the town has also had two break-ins over the past two weeks.

While all three departments are still investigating the crimes, Marion Police Chief Lincoln Miller said that the summer weather plays a key role in how the crimes are committed.

Most of the perpetrators entered the homes through an open, ground floor window, Miller said.

“It makes it easier for someone to break in if the window is open,” he said.

A Mattapoisett resident who was robbed last week, and asked not to be identified by name while the investigation is ongoing, said that most people are unaware of the danger of leaving a window open even if it has a screen.

“The weather has been nice and there’re so many people in this town that leave the window open,” she said. “You think you’re safe and you’re not. I never had any issues, ever. I always left my windows open.”

In this woman’s case, the burglars made off with more than $17,000 in jewelry she had collected over a 30-year period.

While police are searching for suspects, she said that it’s other residents who need to be cautious.

“It’s not so much the loss of the jewelry, I don’t want I to see anybody get hurt,” she said.

Being cautious is something every resident can do, Lyons said.

“The biggest thing is if you see anyone suspicious, call 911 and let us know,” Lyons said. “Neighbors are the best watch we have because they know who belongs and who doesn’t.”

Miller agreed.

“We rely on the eyes and ears of the public to let us know right away if something is out of order. If they see strange activity, call the police right away,” he said.

Marion Police are working with Middleboro Police detectives on the investigation.

Miller said that the crimes in Mattapoisett, and similar ones in Middleboro, could be related.

“Sometimes you get a crew out there that move around the area and stay close to the main roads,” he said.

Break-ins in Marion are not altogether uncommon but when it happens, it tends to be the work of one group, he said.

“We’re safe here. We do have break-ins periodically. It comes and goes in waves,” Miller said.

As for the recent series of break-ins, Miller said the police do have a suspect, but no arrest has been made yet.

Magee said he hoped to have the case resolved soon.

“Given the similarities, we’re probably looking at the same people,” Magee said.