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Muscatine victims say they caught burglar trying to get into their homes

Killian West and Luekinna Hodges both said someone attempted to break into their homes in the last two weeks. They live on the same block.

Police and neighbors in Muscatine, Iowa are warning people of increased burglaries during the summertime.

Killian West and Luekinna Hodges both said someone attempted to break into their homes in the last two weeks. They live on the same block.

"I came around the corner and saw him," said West. "His head and arm were inside [my window]."

"They went around to all the windows trying to get in but they never made it in my house," said Hodges.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, home burglaries occur more during the summer months, than any other season. For example, the rate of household burglaries is 8 percent higher in the summer than in the spring.

Muscatine Police said aside from locking their windows and doors, people need to keep their outdoor lights on and make their homes appear to be occupied to deter burglars.

"Not leaving items out where it looks like people are gone for periods of time, keeping your grass cut short," said Lt. Jeff Jirak of the Muscatine Police Department. "The best deterrent is to a good neighbor. So I might not be home all the time but a neighbor might be there when I'm gone, so they might look out for my stuff and in return I look out for theirs."

Hodges and West said they are keeping an eye out for future burglaries and using motion detector alarms for added security.

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