Downtown Rockford businesses have been the target of a rash of burglaries. The latest was at Minglewood where thousands of dollars of jewelry was taken. This is the second time the shop has been broken into since opening a year ago. The owner says she wanted to be downtown but wasn't expecting to have to add extra security.

The owner Karen Elyea says the robbers broke through the glass window and took about $6,000 worth of merchandise, all sterling silver rings. Karen says after being robbed a second time, she is going to install a metal gate to cover the windows.

Perfection Printing is going on their fifth break in since June. Owner Tom Hoover says the last time they took equipment and tools, items he says can be easily pawned off.

With all this theft, Tom says he’s boarding up and replacing an already broken window with a glass block one.

Both businesses say they have noticed whosever responsible has known exactly what they want cause they're in and out without a big mess. Rockford police say they do have some descriptions but have not made any arrests.

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City of Rockford Crime Rates 2001

State of Illinois Crime Rates 2001

Source: http://www.rockford.uic.edu contributed to this report.