CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- "I was scared to death. I immediately got my son out of the house because we hadn't even gotten into the house, I looked around the corner."

It's every homeowner's worst nightmare. Someone is prying open doors and rummaging through homes in the middle of the day. Janna Balsley and her son opened the door to a terrifying sight after they left the home for only a few hours.

"We came in and the house was just destroyed," she explained. Someone pried open her locked door, stole hundreds of dollars, and personal belongings.

"This person may have been on his last whatever... but so are we. So is everybody," she said.

She's not the only one. In the north section of the city, police say they're investigating a string of burglaries where thieves are targeting jewelry, electronics, and quick cash.

Police say it's common for brazen home burglaries to happen in the middle of the day when the victim is at work or at school. And Cape Coral Police say in the instance of the burglaries here in the north Cape? Police believe it's not just one suspect, but a group working together to target homes.

Lt. Tony Sizemore says the city is recognized as one of the safest in Florida, but says residents shouldn't let their guard down. "If they feel safe, they're a little less apt to take protective measures for their property," he said.

Janna is now activating a home alarm system, but she's glad everyone, including the family dog, is okay.
 
"You just need to look around and be aware of when you're leaving and when you're leaving and coming home," she said.