Burglars Ransack Oconee County Homes, Nab Jewelry and Electronics

The burglaries of three homes Wednesday afternoon in Oconee County are under investigation. 

In one instance, residents of Northwoods Road left for only about an hour -- from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. -- and returned to a ransacked house. Burglars made off with jewelry valued at $10,000, a television and speakers.

Two televisions and power tools were snatched from a home on Barnett Ridge during approximately the same time frame, 1-3 p.m.  Someone had forced open the garage door.

About four miles away, a resident of Travis Drive told deputies she noticed something was awry when she arrived home from work about 6:30 p.m. She'd been away since 7 that morning. Several lights were turned on that normally are not and the front door wouldn't open completely.   When she walked inside, she found her house had been ransacked and about $4,600 worth of jewelry and electronics was gone.

Sheriff Scott Berry told the Athens Banner-Herald investigators are trying to determine if the crimes are linked.

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