Authorities are asking for the public's help identifying several people in connection to at least 13 burglaries in the Park Cities.
Police in Highland Park reported five residential burglaries, while University Park Police said the burglars are believed to be responsible for eight similar crimes in that city.
University Park Police Captain Jim Savage said investigators have gathered pictures of the suspects and vehicles connected to the crimes from surveillance video at Walmart stores where stolen credit cards were used. The stores include locations in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties.
"They're using credit cards to buy gift cards and then the credit cards are canceled by the people. But they don't know that they are stolen until they start getting fraud alerts on the phone," Savage said.
The incidents date to November 2018, according to Highland Park DPS. Burglaries mainly happened in the middle of night at homes that were occupied, but authorities said they had not found any signs of forced entry.
Savage said homes and vehicles that were burglarized were left unlocked.
"It's a crime of opportunity. They're going to find it here, Dallas, wherever. And mostly they're looking for the path of least resistance, which is an open door," Savage said.
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Police in the Park Cities have shared information with other police agencies in locations where the stolen cards were used and where other burglaries may have occurred.
Multiple suspects are believed to be responsible for the crimes.
Anyone with information related to the burglaries is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-877-373-8477.
