INDIANAPOLIS — More break-ins are happening in broad daylight.
A video (above) shows two people accused of breaking out a window and stealing items from a home in the near north side. The incident occurred just before 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.
In the Herron-Morton neighborhood, where that crime happened, police say they've seen an increase in some of those property crimes, especially when people are leaving for work in the morning.
Police call it a crime of opportunity, people leaving for work and their homes are empty.
It's exactly what happened Thursday, in the 1900 block of North New Jersey. In a Ring doorbell video, two people are seen looking inside the front windows of a Herron-Morton home. Moments later, the home's ADT alarm sounds, police were dispatched and found a broken window.
Police call the Herron-Morton neighborhood one of the safer parts of the city, but crimes like this can happen anywhere — and in an instant. According to police, more are happening during daylight hours.
Crime statistics RTV6 pulled from the city show nearly 175 reported incidents of break-ins to vehicles and homes in a six-block radius of Thursday morning's burglary since the middle of November.
Some people say Metro police need to do more to patrol the area.
"We saw the potential of the neighborhood," Wayne Patrick, who has lived in the neighborhood since 1983, said.
Patrick says the neighborhood has done a full 180 degrees since then.
"When we first moved into the neighborhood the police still called this neighborhood dodge city," Patrick said. "It was the highest crime rate neighborhood in the city."
Nowadays, police say it's one of the safer neighborhoods of the city.
"This neighborhood has now gotten to the point where there is value, and there are people here who have things and that's why we have that issue," Patrick said.
A woman who has lived in Herron-Morton for 22 years said that she felt safe in her neighborhood until Thursday morning.
"Probably until that happened right next door to us, I didn't feel unsafe," Barbara Cash said. "Now — broad daylight — my husband is retired, so he's home all the time. So, it gives you a different perspective of what could happen to you."
While some in the community call for more patrols, police say every neighborhood can be a victim to crimes like this. However, residents can help curb crime by merely knowing their community.
"Even if you don't like your neighbor, I don't care," Major Harold Turner, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, said. "Go knock on the door, get to you know your neighbors, wave and say, 'hello.' Know what shifts they work."
Major Turner said that people need to be more aware.
"To be nosey, be nibby, that's what we want. You don't have to go out and get involved, call us, call the neighbors," Turner said.
Metro police say if you happen to see a crime in progress, make sure you call 911 right away and report as much information as possible. You can also go to their website and request to have increased patrols in your area.
