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Police: Brazen Cat Burglar Hitting Upscale N.J. Homes In Broad Daylight

SADDLE RIVER, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A crafty cat burglar is causing chaos in some leafy New Jersey suburbs. Jewelry, cash and, in some cases, high-end cars have been swiped right in the middle of the day.

As CBS 2's Tamara Leitner reported Friday, police are warning residents in Saddle River and nearby towns to lock up their valuables.

They are a brazen series of crimes and not the type of things residents said they expect to find in their upscale community.

Police said there's a cat burglar prowling the well-manicured streets. The thief has boldly struck five homes -- while the residents were home.

"That's what concerns us," Saddle River Police Chief Timothy McWilliams said.

The burglar seems to be on the hunt for cash and jewelry, police said.

"The possibility of somebody getting hurt or a confrontation are there. And we're taking this very seriously," McWilliams said.

Police said they want residents to know the cat burglar has used a ladder to get in second-floor windows – a bold move that has homeowners concerned.

"I've lived here for 54 years. We've seen a lot of changes and, really, we've never had too much trouble or that sort of thing," Upper Saddle River's Jane Berry told CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco.

Police are warning residents to lock their windows, turn on the house alarms and be aware of what's going on in their neighbor's yard, Leitner reported.

Police are also urging residents in Saddle River and neighboring communities to call police if they see anything suspicious -- no matter how small or trivial it may seem.

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