In the past week, thieves have hit six houses that left their garage doors open in a northwest Denton neighborhood near North Lakes Park.
Leaving a garage door open, even during the day while you are at home, is equivalent to "leaving the keys in the ignition," Officer Jim Bryan of the Denton Police Department said.
That's what happened to Heather Farrington who inadvertently left her garage door open last week as she left for the gym. She said a brand new lawnmower her husband had used only a handful of times was stolen.
Despite the recent thefts, several homes in Farrington's neighborhood could be seen with the garage doors left open on Thursday afternoon.
Homeowner Christian Harding said she didn't realize that she had left her garage door open. She said her neighbor's garage was burglarized last week, and acknowledged that thieves could have also robbed her while she was inside her home.
"We can't even leave our garage door open when we're home," Farrington said.
Bryan said garage thefts are a preventable crime and he urged all homeowners to close their garage doors when the area is left unattended.
"We've gotten lazy in our habits and it's time to bump up security," said Shannon Newton, another neighbor.
