ATLANTA -- A series of crimes known as 'knock-knock' burglaries have had residents in Southeast Atlanta on guard.

Dozens of homes in Ormewood Park and Grant Park have been hit by thieves who knock, and if no one’s home, they pay an unfriendly visit.

“It looks like they took a screw driver and were trying to pry the door open,” said resident Jamie Annarino.

Annarino works from home. She stepped out for just a few minutes to run a mid-afternoon errand when the thieves struck.

“I have an alarm system. I know hindsight's 20/20 but I just got lazy,” said Annarino.

Police say burglars are targeting flat-screen TV's and anything that can be easily carried out by hand.

“They came in and I knew I'd been robbed because they just dumped out everything from my jewelry box,” said Annarino.

Neighbors on alert have each other's backs.

Sam Denger spotted someone shady breaking into his neighbor's house. He called police and told the burglar that he saw him and told him to stay where he was.

“We looked out the window and saw him entering and exiting my neighbor’s back door,” said Denger. "We said 'Stop. Stay right there. We know you were just in this house,'" said Denger.