Boston Police District D-14 reports 27 break-ins in the Oak Square section of Brighton since mid-December.

The thieves are looking for unlocked doors and windows, but are willing to force in doors in their search for jewelry, cash, laptops, TVs and other electronics. They seem to be striking mostly between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m.

Rick, who lives in the area, reports his hackles were raised this afternoon, when a guy seemed to be casing apartments on his block - and that when he asked the guy what he was doing, he summoned a crew of other guys in a white Explorer.