PLYMOUTH – State police investigators and the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department are working cooperatively to solve a string of daytime burglaries in Penobscot County that appear to be connected.

During the past month, burglars have broken into about a dozen homes in five communities, taking thousands of dollars in rolled coins, electronics and handguns, Maine State Police Trooper Forrest Simpson said Monday. Sometimes the burglars entered through unlocked windows and in other cases they have forced in doors, he said.

Investigators said the burglaries appear connected: They have all occurred during the day and similar items have been taken. Simpson said there is other information as well, which he isn’t ready to divulge.

“I have evidence that definitely ties them together,” Simpson said.

The burglaries occurred in Corinna, Carmel, Etna, Exeter and Plymouth during the past month, with Simpson noting that they occurred in spurts. The most recent burglaries occurred Oct. 21 when residents from two homes in Plymouth and a home in Etna and one in Carmel reported their homes had been broken into.

“They happen in clumps, they don’t just happen one at a time,” he said.

One lead authorities are looking into is a small silver or gray car that has been seen outside some of the burglarized homes and has also been seen in the area where other burglaries have occurred, Simpson said. The trooper is urging residents to keep an eye on their neighbors’ property as well as for any unusual activity, people or motor vehicles. Anyone seeing anything suspicious may contact local law enforcement agencies and anyone with information about these cases may contact the state police barracks in Orono at 866-2121 or the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department at 947-4585.