NATCHEZ — With the summer heat sweltering, an air-conditioning unit is a hot commodity, especially for criminals.

Natchez Police Department Detective Jerry Ford said a recent spate of burglaries — at least 10 reported in the last week — have included house burglaries during which thieves stole air-conditioning window units.

“With the temperature like it is, air-conditioning (unit) burglaries definitely increase,” Ford said. “We have a lot of people who don’t have (air conditioning), and they’re looking for some type of comfort.”

Streets on which houses were burglarized for window air-conditioning units include St. Mary Street and Morgantown Road, according to police reports.

Ford said residents could protect their window units by properly securing them to window frames.

“Whether it’s bolting (the unit) to the frame of the window and having it to where (a thief) can’t get to those bolts, residents definitely need something to protect (the unit),” Ford said.

Larger air-conditioning units are also a popular item for metal thieves, Ford said. Residents can protect those units by securing them with a cage, but that does not always work, Ford said.

“We’ve had people who have had their cages ripped off,” he said. “(The units) need to be anchored down in a way so that it would deter criminals. Most of (the thieves) who are out doing this have the tools so they can take a cage apart pretty quickly. The units should be secured to where it will slow (thieves) down and they will see it’s going to be a challenge to steal it.”

Ford said more and more residents are also installing game cameras on their properties to deter criminals.

“That’s really starting to help, especially when we have to work a crime, because we’re able to identify a suspect quickly and apprehend them,” Ford said.

Other recent burglaries included four vehicle burglaries Tuesday on Montebello Drive, Arlington Avenue and Woodside Court. All of those were incidents, Ford said, in which drivers left their car doors unlocked.

Electronics were also stolen from a house on Parker Street and a house on Dumas Drive.

Anyone with any information about the burglaries should contact the Natchez Police Department at 601-445-5565 or Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000.

Crime Stoppers offers a reward up to $5,000 for a tip leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect. Callers can remain anonymous.