UPDATE: Friday, August 17, 2012

It was an unexpected start to Terry Hunter's first week on the job.

"It was kind of hard to believe you start your second day and something like this has already taken place," Hunter said.

Hunter went to work Wednesday at Dreamscapes landscaping to find a burglar had kicked in the back door.

"We kinda walked around a couple different times just to make sure but we didn't really find anything out of place or anything missing," Hunter said. "It makes you wonder what was going on."

Dreamscapes was one of three Derby businesses hit in the early morning hours Wednesday. Hunter says two doors down at Ralph's Barber Shop some cash and a pair of running shoes were taken. The American Legion down the street was also burglarized.

Police say, overall, the burglar grabbed $30 in cash and a blue gym bag but caused hundreds of dollars in damage.

"We believe the same individual is responsible for all three burglaries," Derby Police Chief Robert Lee said.

Lee says that the man is the one seen in a surveillance video his department in circulating.

"He's trying to conceal his face when he first goes into that particular one where he is captured on video which maybe indicates to us that he maybe is a little bit familiar with the security system there," Lee said.

But he says with no current leads, he's asking the public to take a close look.

"We certainly want to nip it in the bud before we have a rash of these kinds of burglaries," Lee said.

Business owners and employees say their concern is that these burglaries could turn into robberies.

"Next time it will be a lot worse, maybe somebody will be in there and have some problems or something like that, with catching them in the act," Lee said.

Police say the suspect is a white male with dark hair worn in a ponytail. He was wearing a grey polo shirt and black shorts. They also believe he has a tattoo on his right calf.

You can watch the surveillance video on the Derby Police Department Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Derby-Police-Department/293849838398

If you have any information that might help solve these crimes, you can reach the Derby Police Department at (316) 788-1558 or call Derby Crime Stoppers at (316) 788-TIPS.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Derby authorities are searching for a suspect wanted in connection to a series of recent business burglaries.

The Derby Police department said the crimes occurred in the 100 and 200 blocks of S. Baltimore Aug. 15.

Investigators said the suspect broke into the businesses by kicking in a door, or breaking through a window.

The suspect is described as a white man, with long, dark hair that was pulled back in a ponytail. He was wearing a grey polo type shirt, black shorts, and black tennis shoes possibly considered high tops.

Anyone with information on the crimes should call the Derby Police Crime Stoppers at 788-TIPS.