By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
CLEVELAND — Deputies are investigating two house burglaries that could be connected, authorities said.
According to a Rowan County Sheriff’s Office report, officers were called to Amity Hill Road in Cleveland after a homeowner found more than $16,000 in electronics and jewelry were missing.
Shortly before the break-in call, authorities also responded to another burglary on Hall Road in Mount Ulla.
Investigators said more than $20,000 in checks written to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church were stolen.
The homes are about 7 miles apart.
Detectives said they did not see signs of forced entry at the home on Amity Hill Road.
But a window was open and a screen was found on the ground nearby.
A PlayStation 3 game system, several PS3 games, a Verizon cell phone, and hundreds of dollars worth of clothes of the homeowner and her son were stolen.
Deputies said a flat screen TV, two iPads, a DJ system and a DVD player were also taken.
A neighbor told officers she saw a full-size gold Chrysler at the home about 5 p.m. and three men near the vehicle.
The homeowner called 911 when she found her sliding back door was open about 8:15 p.m.
Residents at the home on Hall Road called authorities about 8 p.m. and said they had been at the home since 3:30 p.m. but didn’t realize it had been broken into.
A bank bag was missing from the home with $20,486 in checks stamped for St. Luke’s Lutheran Church.
The homeowner is a treasurer for the church.
Deputies said about $350 in cash was also taken.
Evidence from both homes was taken, reports show.
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigator Christine Brown at 704-216-8715.