LINDEN — The city’s police department spent a large portion of its week investigating a rash of business break-ins from last weekend. The incidents, which saw eight Linden businesses hit, occurred some time during the evening hours of Saturday, March 5 or the early morning hours of Sunday, March 6.

Linden Police Department Chief Scott McClure said the department believes all of the offenses were committed by an individual rather than a group. He also pointed out that, while the thief in question made off with only $100 for his efforts, he faces eight counts of burglary.

The department’s investigation indicated the thief entered the premises of each business either through back doors or other clandestine entry points.

“In most of them, he went through back doors and alley ways,” McClure said. “The other ones, he just pulled the air conditioners out.”

The department’s findings included minimal property damage stemming from the burglaries.

“I’d say, most of them, a $300 door,” McClure said of the biggest cost most of the businesses are facing.

The department discovered two of the incidents Sunday before learning of the other six Monday morning. McClure said the case is particularly tricky not only because of the methods the intruder utilized, but because of when the offenses were committed.

“The whole thing is there was no video,” McClure said. “It was raining. It was muddy. It was nasty. There were no fingerprints.”

The incident report released by the Linden Police Department shows that the businesses hit were Ziggy Zelda at 103 East 8th Avenue, Sheila’s Style Studio at 104 West 8th Avenue, Two Of A Kind at 420 South Main Street, Tan & Tone at 111 West Coats Avenue, H&R Block at 110 West Coats Avenue, Killgore Tax and Accounting Services at 110 East 8th Avenue, U.S. Consolidated Farm Services Agency at 105 East 5th Street and Larry Walters Furniture at 106 South Main Street.

While Linden is a small, largely safe community, McClure said it is important for citizens and business owners to take security seriously.

“I recommend to anybody, even in your home — I know we live in a small community, be we still have the dangers and the crimes of bigger cities — get you an alarm system. Get a camera. Get you a surveillance system,” McClure said. “The police can’t be there all the time, but at least you will have eyes on it.”