Seven burglaries within seven hours early Monday morning spanning two states left police trying to determine if they’re connected.
Burglars targeted restaurants in Connecticut and Rhode Island, including Groton, Stonington and East Lyme.
Across the border restaurants in Hopkinton and Westerly, R.I., were burglarized as well.
The police departments are working together and investigating several leads that may connect the burglaries.
Charlie’s Place in East Lyme had a surveillance camera set up, which caught the burglars on video.
“It just makes me feel uncomfortable because now I think every night about whether it’s going to happen again or not,” said owner Charlie Anastasiou.
He said burglars pried open the cash register with a crowbar stealing $100 and a laptop computer.
Fifteen minutes east in Groton, Midway Pizza was also burglarized early Monday morning.
“I never keep any money here because of the past experience that I have,” said owner Paul Metsios.
He said his restaurant has been burglarized six times in his 51 years of ownership.
Similar burglaries also happened at The Yankee Clipper in East Lyme, Stonington Pizza and Seafood Etc. in Stonington, Ella’s and Sea Goose in Westerly and The Pavilion in Hopkinton, according to police.
If you have any information, contact Groton Police at 860-441-6712.