ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Burglars are targeting construction sites and stealing thousands of dollars' worth of equipment and appliances.
Crooks targeted the Nocatee community. At least five homes under construction were burglarized on the same day.
When Jeanne Foti arrived to check on her friend's new home under construction, she was glad to know everything was okay. But that wasn't the case next door.
"I was totally unaware of and surprised, because this is the last building to go in, and thankfully, it wasn't hers," Foti said.
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Three homes on Magnolia Creek Way were almost ready for move in when they were hit up by burglars.
Each house had at least a refrigerator and a washer machine stolen overnight Tuesday.
"Unfortunately at this time of year it seems to happen. So I don't know, it could be workers that come here, it could be people who visit here … it's sad," Foti said.
Deputies say it's an ongoing problem in St. Johns County. Last month, we told you about a tractor stolen right off a construction site near World Golf Village.
"We do, in fact, work with builders and talk to them about some of these things, but sometimes from what they tell us, it's unavoidable," Foti said.
So, Foti is going to give her friend a call.
"Hurry and close so you can move in, they won't come back," Foti said.
And make sure the house is secure every time she pays a visit.
Two more homes under construction were burglarized near Magnolia Creek this week. In all five incidents, deputies believe the suspects used a U-Haul to load up the appliances.
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