WINDSOR, S.C. - Aiken County investigators are telling homeowners to be alert.

During the past few days, burglars have robbed several homes in Windsor.

Big ticket items were the targets for the thieves. Items that are hard to move and investigators say take planning to steal.

Windsor isn't the only area that's been hit lately and people living in the Ridge Spring community say they're determined to find out who's behind the crimes in their neighborhood.

Wednesday morning Stephanie Bates picked up evidence the Aiken County Sheriff's Office used to find out who broke into her home and robbed her.

“We were the third person in our neighborhood to be hit,” Bates said.

She says robbers took jewelry from all the Ridge Spring homes - $10,000 worth from her house.

She says her neighbors aren't just relying on investigators to solve the case.

“Our neighbors are taking more aggressive outlets and trying to investigate ourselves,” Bates said.

Bates neighborhood isn't the only one in the county that's been targeted by thieves lately. Several neighbors in the Windsor community were also robbed.

“Mostly what's missing is electronic tools, home improvement tools, had some ATVs, some riding lawn mowers,” Sergeant Dave Myers, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office said.

That's exactly what thieves stole from Lovoied McBryar.

“I got up the next morning and cut the grass and I noticed my lawn mower and tiller were both gone,” he said.

Before it was stolen McBryar used a tarp to cover his riding mower. Investigators say it's taking careful planning by the thieves to move such large items like the mower.

Investigators say the Windsor thieves may be using a trailer to haul the items they steal.

“Stuff that's heavy, bulky that would take some time to take,” Myers said.

McBryar and Bates agree anything that's stolen takes time to replace.

Investigators say the Windsor and Ridge Spring burglaries are not connected, but both are remote areas.

Investigators say lately thieves have been targeting more rural areas.

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