The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office is investigating a string of burglaries that occurred throughout the county in the last month. More than 20 residences in Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Ithaca, Lansing and Newfield were burglarized from April 13 to May 5. Almost half of the burglaries occurred in Ithaca, four of which happened at a single apartment complex. The perpetrators have taken items such as laptop computers, flat screen televisions, video game systems, digital cameras, iPods, and guns, including a rifle that was later recovered from a ditch, the Ithaca journal reports. Most of the homes were entered through unlocked doors or windows during the day when residents weren't home. Victims' neighbors reported seeing suspicious activities in the same timeframe of the crimes, and investigators believe the suspects are using ruses to case neighborhoods and residences before the burglaries.