About nine homes were burglarized in the Liberty Ridge area this month, said deputy police chief Tim Troxel.

At least seven of the incidents were opportunistic, meaning doors or windows were left unlocked, he said.

“We see that from time to time when the weather gets warm,” he said. “We encourage people, even in the heat, don’t leave your houses unlocked.”

The thieves mainly took electronics, including several laptop computers, but there was at least one incident in which a loaded handgun and ammunition magazines were reported stolen.

“It certainly has got our attention. We’re spending much more time up there now doing patrols,” he said.

Two suspicious-looking youth, ages 15 and 16, were caught in someone’s backyard after a neighbor called police, Troxel said.

An officer recognized the two from a local school. The youths said they were planning to offer yard services to the homeowner, Troxel said.

“We think it’s the same group of kids,” he said, adding that “even though they were peaking over fences, there is nothing to tie those two folks to those burglaries yet.”

Investigators found fingerprints at a few homes and are waiting for results from King County’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System.

In several of the cases homeowners reported missing consummables.

“It’s mostly kids who have a little snack while they’re there,” Troxel said. “Adults look for the higher ticket items, where they can pawn or sell them on the street.”

Block-watch groups are becoming more alert to suspicious behavior.

“Most of the residences … didn’t have an alarm, or if they did, didn’t have it set,” Troxel said. “You, as citizens, need to do your part as well.”