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"It was still in the box," Police Chief Robert Kugler said of the 32-inch set. "They were about to open it and use it for the holidays."
Whoever was responsible pried open a rear door of the Kuhn Drive home and ransacked dresser drawers between 1-6 p.m., the chief said.
That was followed by an attempted break-in after 5 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of Oxford Avenue, Kugler said.
"Same MO -- rear door forcibly opened," he said.
A dog in the house "may have restricted entry," the chief said. Nothing was reported missing.
He urged citizens to take steps to burglar-proof their homes amid the annual spree of holiday break-ins:
• Make sure all doors and windows are secure, especially in back; use window stops;
• Clear windows and doors of any bushes, trees or shrubs so that you, your neighbors — and, if necessary, police — can see them;
• Use deadbolts -- but with screws are at least a couple of inches long for additional strength;
• Motion detector lighting; not too close to the ground that someone could unscrew the bulb;
• Don't leave ladders or other types of boosters or tools outside;
• Keep lights on. Put them, televisions and radios on timers.
MORE TIPS: 'Tis the Burglary Season: Protect Your Home
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