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Oakland residents warned to lock doors, windows after string of robberies

PITTSBURGH — A string of burglaries in Pittsburgh’s South Oakland neighborhood has police warning residents, particularly college students, to lock doors and windows.

In the last 16 days, there have been six robberies that have targeted homes where students live. In each incident, the homes were broken into through doors and windows.

The most recent robbery happened sometime Tuesday evening on Ward Street. Purses, backpacks, laptops, tablets and watches were stolen.

“It’s Oakland, so there’s always crimes going on, but I have always felt safe on this street. There are families that live on this street,” Sydney Greece, who lives on Ward Street, said.

Greece attends Carlow University and said that she has noticed more crime alerts from police as of late.

“We were just talking about that whenever they sent out the police report today to make sure all of our windows are locked. We actually heard about somebody taking out the air conditioners and going through the windows,” Greece said. “When you see it happening all the time, I think that you start to worry a little bit for your safety.”

Anyone with information about any of the robberies is asked to call police.