COEUR d'ALENE - The Coeur d'Alene Police Department has seen an increase in brazen daytime residential burglaries in the past month, authorities said Tuesday.

The city and Kootenai County, combined, had more than 70.

"That's highly unusual," said Coeur d'Alene police Sgt. Christie Wood.

Based on past arrests and information gained from past investigations, authorities believe the burglaries all relate back to drugs, she said.

"They have one agenda for their day, that is to find something of value to sell to feed their drug habit," Wood said. "They do what they think they need to do."

The top drugs of the burglars include Oxycontin, methamphetamine, and heroin, she said.

"Jewelry and coins are quick and easy to sell," Wood said.

Burglars are targeting homes throughout Coeur d'Alene, she said.

Along with jewelry and coins, burglars are snatching laptop computers, guns, and anything else that is valuable and easy to carry off.

Burglars are kicking in doors, slipping through windows, and even squeezing through doggie doors.

Cynthia Marlette said her home was burglarized last week along with others in her Coeur d'Alene neighborhood.

"(Burglars) go through a neighborhood and knock loudly on someone's door," Marlette said in an email. "If someone is home, they claim to be selling something. When they find no one home, they target the house."

She said the burglars are in and out in five minutes.

"They took all my gold rings and $850 in the jewelry box," she said.

She said people should be suspicious of strangers coming to the door.

"We've had several 'door-to-door' salesman lately," Marlette said. "Residents need this info so they can look for license plate numbers and notify police."

Wood said homeowners need to close and lock all dog doors not in use.

Also, homeowners need to make sure they have a dead bolt on outside doors, that windows are shut and locked, and that garage doors are closed when residents are not home, Wood said.

Residents need to call police if they see suspicious activity or vehicles in a neighborhood, she said.

"If you have an active Block Watch group make sure you are meeting and discussing any suspicious activity with your fellow neighbors," she said.

Block Watch groups are a proven deterrent to crime and have been the key to identifying suspects of crimes, she said.

"They are helping to put these people in jail," she said.

To start a Block Watch group, call 769-2320.

Suspect arrested, another sought

COEUR d'ALENE - Coeur d'Alene police detectives arrested a 20-year-old Hayden man Tuesday on two counts of residential burglary, according to a news release.

Brad W. Whisner was taken into custody, and an arrest warrant was obtained by police for another man, 22-year-old William E. Fesmire.

Detectives obtained the warrant for Fesmire for three counts of residential burglary.

Fesmire is believed to be in Rialto, Calif.

Fesmire's residence in Coeur d'Alene is in the Echo Glen area.

These two males are not suspects in the recent rash of daytime burglaries.

They are, however, believed to be responsible for at least five other burglaries of residences in the Coeur d'Alene area including two burglaries that occurred in the Echo Glen subdivision.