FRANKLIN—Nine burglaries within seven months in the same Franklin neighborhood have prompted residents to consider forming a neighborhood crime watch group.

Franklin Police Sgt. Mark Cornell will talk about organizing a group during an 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, meeting at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center.

Franklin Police Lt. Tim Whitt said the daytime and nighttime burglaries occurred between July 24 and Jan 27 in the area of 4th Avenue and Gardner and Charles streets. Items stolen ranged from jewelry valued at $2,000 from a home in the 600 block of Gardner Street to a PlayStation, $400 in change, a camera and knives from a home in the 300 block of Clay Street.

Other homes burglarized included two in the 700 block of Charles Street, 400 block of Ryland Street, 700 block of Norfleet Street, 300 block of West Fourth Avenue and another in the 300 block of Clay Street.

During a Jan. 25 burglary on W. 4th Street, a witness saw a black male, standing about 5-foot-10, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Police have no other suspects, Whitt said.

He suggested if anyone sees something suspicious to call police.

“Burglars are opportunists, and they may very well be watching when someone goes to work (and then break in),” Whitt said.

In some instances, a burglar knocks on a door. If no one answers, he breaks in, Whitt said. If someone does answer the door, he makes up an excuse for being there.

Franklin police can be reached at 562-8575.