1. Authorities are investigating a recent string of laptop thefts from offices around North Raleigh. In the past week there have been eight commercial burglaries totaling more than $44,000 in computers and other merchandise.

Thieves broke into several suites of an office in the 4000 block of Westchase Boulevard taking 14 laptops and other property totaling more than $23,000. The incident occurred between 5 p.m. on May 1 and 8 a.m. on May 2.

Two other locations were also hit with computer thefts. Sometime between 7 p.m. on April 30 and 6 a.m. on May 1 burglars forced their way into an office on Ridgefield Drive and stole a projector and three laptops valued at more than $17,000. Around the same time burglars took five laptops and two briefcases totaling $4,600 from an office in the 7200 block of Falls of Neuse Road.

Police are looking into the possibility the crimes are related. Police spokesman Jim Sughrue urged businesses to consider hiding laptops or having employees take them home.

Theft from homes

2. A thief or thieves stole a 32-inch plasma TV, an 80 GB iPod, a digital camera, and other electronic equipment and games totaling $2,000 from a home in the 10300 block of Ash Hollow Drive. The incident occurred between 8 p.m. April 24 and 5 p.m. May 1.

3. Burglars stole landscaping equipment, a leaf blower, and other property totaling $2,100 from a home on Tunas Street. The thefts occurred between April 10 and May 1.

4. Burglars on May 1 broke into a home on Pine Trace Drive taking $2,250 in jewelry and another $50 in cash.

5. Burglars with a craving for junk food broke into a house through a kitchen window on Wallingford Drive and stole $100 worth of drinks, chips, snacks, and pizza. The incident occurred May 2.

Assaults

6. Authorities responded to an assault with a firearm at a home in the 2500 block of New Hope Church Road. An automobile received $250 worth of damage according to the police report. The incident occurred just after midnight on May 3.

Business thefts

7. Thieves stole two condenser units valued at $8,000 from a building on Departure Drive in Capital Center Business Park. The thefts occurred around 4:30 p.m. on April 28.

8. A thief or thieves stole $4,600 in building equipment from a construction site on Braxwood Place. The stolen items included two extension ladders, scaffolding, metal poles and braces, and a safety net. The theft took place between 6 p.m. on May 1 and 7:30 a.m. on May 2.

9. Several thefts occurred last week at the Holiday Inn in the 2800 block of Highwoods Blvd. On April 28 between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. a thief stole a laptop valued at $500 from the hotel. The next day, an employee called police at 8 p.m. regarding a robber with a firearm. Nothing was reported stolen. Lastly, a burglar broke into the business on May 4 between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. and stole a purse and a phone.

Vehicle thefts

10. Thieves made off with a Gray 1999 Saab valued at $5,000 that was parked outside a Motel 6 on Maitland Drive. The theft happened between 9 p.m. on April 29 and 11 a.m. April 30.

11. A thief or thieves stole a Dell laptop valued at $1,400 from a parked car in the 4200 block of Six Forks Road. The incident occurred between 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. May 3.

12. Thieves stole a 2003 Ford Expedition and personal property valued at more than $13,000 from a home on Blairmore Court. The theft occurred between 10 p.m. April 30 and 7 a.m. May 1.

Wake County Sheriff reports

13. Burglars broke into a home and a vehicle on Wood Valley Drive. The incident occurred between around 2 a.m. on April 29. The report did not indicate whether anything was stolen.

14. A thief or thieves broke into a vehicle on Fruit Hill Lane and stole a GPS unit, a radar detector and other multimedia equipment valued at $780. The thefts occurred between 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.