Last Friday, Oct. 8, Redmond police, with the help of alert neighbors, put an end to burglary scam sweeping through Redmond.

Police arrested two women — a 22-year-old from Redmond and a 31-year-old Leavenworth resident who was staying in the Sammamish area — for investigation of residential burglary in the second degree, after neighbors suspected ill intentions and called police.

The first call came in around 1:25 p.m., after the two women knocked on a front door in the 17300 block of Northeast 31st Court and allegedly said they were there for a housekeeping job, according to Jim Bove, Redmond police spokesperson. Then the two women went to another nearby home in the 17400 block of Northeast 31st Court and told the homeowner that they were looking for a lost cat, prompting that neighbor to call police, Bove said.

Both stories proved to be false, as the two were trying to “see if anyone was home and, if not, trying to break in,” Bove said.

Redmond police responded immediately and set up a perimeter. Police found the two women, questioned them about previous cases in and around Redmond and then arrested the two women at 1:49 p.m. in the Idylwood overflow parking lot at the 3400 block of 177th Avenue Northeast, according to Bove.

Bove said police believe the women were involved in at least eight burglaries in the area over the last couple months. Redmond Police Department is currently sharing information with neighboring cities to see if the suspects were involved in burglaries elsewhere, Bove said.

“People called 911 immediately and gave us the information we needed to get there quickly and take suspects into custody without incident,” Bove said. “With these arrests, our residential home burglaries have dipped considerably. That’s good news.”

However, Bove said, police have seen a recent spike in apartment burglaries, especially in the Overlake area, where suspects gain access through unlocked/unsecured doors or windows.

Bove provided some easy crime prevention safety tips every resident should follow:

• Call 911 immediately if you see or suspect a break-in.

• Secure all doors, windows and garages.

• Record all vital information about your valuables, including serial numbers.

• Know your neighbors and share information about possible criminal activity.

• If a crime was committed against you, call the police and report it immediately.