Detectives are working to solve a series of burglaries on North and Central Whidbey over the last month.

In the meantime, they warn residents to be extra careful and vigilant in locking doors, setting alarms and watching out for suspicious characters.

The Island County Sheriff’s Office produced sketches in an effort to locate the suspects in the most alarming of the burglaries.

A 32-year-old Henni Road resident returned home at about 4:45 p.m. on Friday, July 28, and surprised two burglars. The two men assaulted him before driving off in a older, blue, four-door sedan.

Commander Mike Beech with the Island County Sheriff’s Office drew the sketches of the two suspects based on the victim’s recollection. Anyone who recognizes the suspects should contact him at 678-4422.

In addition, detectives are investigating a string of burglaries in Oak Harbor, the county and Coupeville. Most of the burglaries targeted businesses and churches. They occurred late at night and the intruders got away with cash.

Sgt. Jerry Baker with the Oak Harbor Police said the burglaries don’t appear to be connected to the violent daylight burglary that Beech is investigating. But Baker said he believes all of the night-time commercial burglaries are linked.

“I believe all are related to the same person or group of people,” he said.

Coupeville Marshal Lenny Marlborough is investigating three burglaries at downtown businesses in early July. About $3,000 worth of cash and items were stolen.

Beech said the Sheriff’s Office is looking into four commercial break-ins on North Whidbey over the last week. Contrary to Baker, he feels they may be connected to the daylight burglars in his sketches.

In Oak Harbor, Baker is digging into a string of more than a dozen burglaries in the city over the last three weeks.

On Wednesday night, the burglars hit four Oak Harbor churches. Besides businesses and churches, a few homes have also been broken into.

“Most of these kinds of burglaries are drug related,” Baker said. “They’ve taken a VCR, a drill, a few small things, but mostly cash.”