The Early Police Department and Brown County Sheriff’s Office were kept busy Monday night responding to multiple reports of a possible prowler in residential neighborhoods.

Early Police Chief David Mercer said that officers responded to at least 4 possible prowler calls during the night in the City of Early.

Mercer said that the first prowler call was in the area of Sherry Lane when the residents of a home called police after seeing a man looking into their bedroom window.

“They had seen a tall, dark colored male subject in their yard at the bedroom window,” Mercer said. “From that point, he ran out into the street and ran down the street.”

The Early K9 officer was used to track the suspect, but lost the scent after a few blocks.

Officers responded to three other prowler calls Monday night in the areas of Meadow Lane and Lucas Drive.  Mercer said that the residents of two of these calls heard strange noises, but did not see a suspect.  The last call was determined to be someone mistaking an object for a person hiding near a home, according to Mercer.

“The first call was the only confirmed call we had last night that showed someone in the area,” Mercer said.

Some evidence was collected, but Mercer said that they do not have any other leads at this time.

Investigators are also looking to see if Monday night’s prowler is connected to a home invasion that occurred  September 6th on Mitsy Lane.  During this home invasion, an intruder described as a slender but muscular black male came into a residence while four children were home alone.  Mercer said that there could be a connection to the Monday night prowler case.

The Brown County Sheriff Office is also investigating two daylight incidences of vacant homes being entered – one on CR 592 (just off of Hwy 183N) and another on CR 340 (also known as Skyview Drive).  Sheriff Bobby Grubbs said that they are looking into those cases.

“Presently, there is little evidence – other than timing and home intrusion – to support a firm connection to the crime in Early,” stated Grubbs.

Grubbs said that BCSO is investigating these crimes and are working closely with Early Police Department to assist in their investigation and will work with other local law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend this suspect.  Several other suspicious cases were called in Tuesday morning that officers are investigating to see if there is a connection.

Officials said that in all of the home entry cases that they are looking into, there is no evidence of forced entry and the suspect entered through an unlocked door.

Mercer is also looking at evidence to determine if there is a connection between last week’s Early home invasion case with a case in Dublin where a woman was sexually assaulted as well as another assault case in Stephenville.

“There has been a lot of speculation that the same guy that is prowling in Early and did the home invasion over a week ago is the same that raped a girl in Dublin and an attempted attack in Stephenville,” Mercer said.  “We’re working with Stephenville PD, Tarleton PD, and Dublin PD regarding this.  There are some similarities, but there are some big differences too so we’re not saying it’s not, but we’re not saying it is either.”

For now, both Chief Mercer and Sheriff Grubbs encourage area residents to be mindful and remember to lock their doors.

“Citizens should take precautionary measures to secure doors, windows and reduce visibility to an intruder who may try to look in,” stated Grubbs.  “The safety and security of our citizens is our highest priority.  Our deputies will work diligently to insure our citizens are protected.”

“I don’t want people out there to live in fear.   I want them to feel safe, and right now I know they don’t,” stated Mercer.  “We’re doing everything we can do to get this solved.”

If anyone has information about any of these crimes, they are encouraged to call the Early Police Department at 325-646-5322, the Heart of Texas Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at 325-646-5510