After a recent string of burglaries in Bayou Vista, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating four home and vehicle burglaries and is offering advice for area residents.

The sheriff’s office reports that some of the burglaries could have been prevented by locking home or vehicle doors and advises further that burglars often use windows to access homes and monitor posts on social media sites such as Facebook that indicate that the resident is not home and will not be home for a while.

“Touch nothing. Although it may be difficult when you’re a victim of theft, leaving the site undisturbed offers investigators the best possible chance of solving the crime,” SMPSO spokesperson Traci Landry said.

“If there appears to be forced entry or if you suspect that you have been a victim of burglary do not enter the home. The criminal or criminals may still be inside. Alert authorities immediately.”

Suspicious activity can be reported to the sheriff’s office at 985-384-1622 or 337-828-1960.