While homeowners are working, thieves are busy stealing their stuff in central Lawrence County.

“There’s been a rash of home burglaries in the Kitts Hill area and lately it has expanded into the Deering area,” Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless said in a statement.

Kitts Hill is located on Neds Fork along Ohio 141, about 10 miles north of Ironton, while Deering is south of there, along Ohio 243, about four miles northeast of Coal Grove.

The sheriff said the break-ins are occurring during the day and early evening hours, when homeowners are away from their homes.

“They’re taking small items like jewelry, power tools, guns and miscellaneous other things that are easy to carry off,” Lawless said.

“We’re working diligently to get them. We’ve got several leads we’re following, but we’ve had no arrests as yet.”

He cautioned home owners to make certain their houses are locked when they leave and to ask their neighbors to watch their property while they’re away.

He asked anyone who has noticed someone acting suspiciously to call the sheriff’s office at (740) 532-3525 or (740) 533-4373.

“If they notice any suspicious person, vehicle, or activity in their neighborhood, I hope they’ll call us and give us a description or whatever they have. We won’t have to use their name at all,” Lawless said.

G. SAM PIATT can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.