SALINAS, Calif. -- Burglars on the central coast are watching your every move and to make sure they're in the clear, they'll even knock on your door before breaking in.
It's new information on the rash of burglaries we've been telling you about up and down the central coast.
On Tuesday, a Salinas woman was babysitting at a home on Via Maria when she heard constant banging on the front door, but she decided not to answer.
That gave the burglar outside the green light.
Police said when no one answered, the man went around the back side, jumped the fence and broke in through the window.
When they wound up face to face, he knew his plan hadn't worked and took off.
But for people in the neighborhood, burglaries in the middle of the day are becoming the norm.
"We had a gentleman jump the fence, come in through the side yard here, went through my slider," said Christy Chacon.
Six months ago, when Chacon's home was broken into, thieves got away with thousands of dollars worth of her property, even her wedding ring.
She wasn't home and she thinks the burglars knew that.
"It doesn't matter the time of the day," she said.
That's because police all over the central coast said burlgars are casing homes, and know your every move.
In June, Seaside Police said burglars were watching people as they left for work, waiting for the chance to get into their homes and cars, doubling the break-in totals from last year.
Earlier this month, all it took was a walk through Pebble Beach neighborhoods to see people weren't locking their cars, and burglars took advantage of 12 cars in just two weeks.
Police said knowing your surroundings and who's coming through your neighborhood is the key to protecting your home.
