Edgartown police are investigating a string of home break-ins in the downtown area over the past week.

Det. Craig Edwards said there were four break-ins on School street and South Summer street, two at the same house. The first was on June 12, when a piece of jewelry and several bottles of prescription medication had been stolen from a home on School street. The homeowners were out and the door was unlocked, police said.

Last Tuesday the same homeowners called police to report someone had entered the house in the early morning hours while they slept. Again, several prescription bottles were stolen. Also last Tuesday, a resident of South Summer street called police around 9:30 p.m. to report an unknown person in her house. The woman was not able to get a clear description of the man before he fled.

On Saturday a School street resident reported someone had stolen a Federal Express package from the front porch.

“The circumstances in each case are similar. All indications are these incidents are related,” Detective Edwards said.

He said police have stepped up patrols of the downtown area.

“We are also asking people to be careful about locking their doors and windows, on the ground level and the second floor,” the detective said.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Edgartown police at 508-627-4343.

In other police news, an Edgartown man sustained serious injuries and was cited for drunk driving after he drove off Katama Road near the intersection of Knoll Drive and hit a tree just before 2 a.m. on Friday.

Warren West, 21, was cited for operating under the influence of alcohol, operating to endanger, marked lane violation and operating at an unreasonable speed. Because of his injuries, he was not arrested, but was summoned to appear in court at a later date. The skid marks from Mr. West’s vehicle were about 857 feet long, indicating he was traveling at excessive speeds, police said.