As an elderly Cromwell couple slept on Thursday night, a person or people entered their house, rifled through their kitchen and bathroom and stole medication.
It was one of five similar incidents in the last three weeks, leading concerned police to urge people to report anything suspicious as soon as possible.
Sergeant Simon Paget said the elderly couple's Ortive St house was broken into sometime between 11.30pm on Thursday and 3am yesterday.
He said the offender or offenders broke a window to gain entry, searched the kitchen and bathroom and took some medication.
He said it was concerning the offenders would enter a house when the residents were home but it was the number of reports of suspicious activity in the town that was most worrying.
''But often they get reported the next day ... we need to know straight away.''
The reports often concerned knocking on windows and things being moved overnight - ''prowler-type stuff''.
He urged residents to be vigilant, to ensure their houses, garages and sheds were locked, to keep an eye on neighbours' houses and to report suspicious activity to police as soon as possible.
