Covington neighbors worry that arsons may have covered up pair of home burglaries

COVINGTON, Ky. - This will be a very anxious Labor Day weekend for some Covington residents who found their houses ransacked Friday morning when they came home from their overnight jobs.

They're also worried that a pair of arsons to two vacant houses a few blocks away may have been started to cover the burglaries.

The burned vacant homes are on Lexington Street. The fires destroyed both buildings. Down the Lexington Street hill and two short blocks over is Bond Street. That's where two homes, a short walk from one another, were both burglarized.

When she came home Friday morning, Lois Murphy found furniture overturned and her home looted. Drawers were open and the remaining contents left on the floor. Lois said a neighbor told her they didn't hear anything. But her back door was propped up against the neighbor's house.

"No clue besides it appears they were on their way out and maybe got spooked or something," said Murphy. "A 42-inch TV and a computer, desktop computer, were sitting in a yard next door and that's what the police took to the crime lab to be checked."

The robbers broke into a second home through an attic and stole items from shelves and dresser drawers.

"They came in through the attic," area-resident Raymond Lee said. "Both times they came in through the attic. You'd think they'd kick the door in. But they came through the attic. I had a chain saw and a weed cutter and two lanterns taken from downstairs. Plus my medication was taken."

Both Lee and Murphy say they'll rely on friends and family to help them begin to rebuild their wrecked homes.

Covington police have not said whether they think the burglaries may be connected to the arson. But they are aware of the crimes and have taken Murphy's TV and home computer that were found outside in the back yard to be analyzed for evidence.

9 News will stay on top of this story, and have any new developments as they become available.