Several Oxnard neighborhoods in recent weeks have been hit with a rash of residential burglaries targeting unlocked homes, police said.

Most of the incidents appear unrelated, but Detective Felice Thompson of the Oxnard Police Department sees them as a worrisome increase in preventable crimes.

"People are leaving their doors and windows unlocked, and that's how people are getting in," said Thompson, who is investigating the burglaries.

Of the 37 residential burglaries reported in Oxnard so far this month, 20 were attributed to unlocked windows or doors, the detective said.

In one 24-hour period from July 15 to July 16, burglars hit five unlocked homes near Wooley Road.

Thompson is particularly concerned about a surge of "hot prowl" burglaries in which criminals enter dwellings while the residents are home, she said. Burglary by definition is a crime against property, not people, but hot prowl burglaries have greater potential for confrontation and violence.

In one recent case, a burglar went through the window of a master bedroom and stole several jewelry boxes while residents were watching television in the living room, Thompson said.

During the week of July 7, Oxnard police tallied five hot prowl burglaries in north Oxnard. Two more similar burglaries and one auto burglary were reported on Kentia Street on July 15. All of the homes hit had unlocked doors or windows.

An 18-year-old Oxnard woman and a 17-year-old Oxnard boy were arrested on suspicion of committing the burglaries on Kentia Street, said Oxnard Police spokesman David Keith. No charges were filed against the woman, and she was released several days later.

Hot prowl burglaries sometimes occur because burglars knock on doors, then enter homes when no one answers, thinking no one is home, Thompson said. For that reason, police advise people to acknowledge they are home when they hear knocks, even if they don't want to answer their doors, Thompson said. She said people should be wary of letting strangers, including door-to-door salespeople, into their homes.

Hot prowl burglaries are still relatively rare, however. A total of 14 were reported in Oxnard so far this year, compared to 11 in the same period last year.

Losses from these burglaries ranged from $200 to $1,500, Thompson said.

Crimes like these could likely be avoided if people lock their homes, Thompson said. "Let's not make it easy on these folks," she said, referring to burglars.

Police encourage residents to call 911 if they see anything suspicious.