(WSBT) Burglars are getting more bold, kicking in doors and breaking into homes as people are inside sleeping. Police say it's a growing problem everywhere.

People living in South Bend's Harter Heights neighborhood, the area around 933 and Angela, say they've seen an increase in car and home break-ins over the last year. But the burglars have become more brazen. And some say they fear for lives.

Police have arrested three adults and one teenager for trying to break into homes while the homeowners and their children have been inside sleeping. But they say they're surprised because even with the arrests, they aren't seeing a decrease in crime.

There's more room for Zoey's bicycle, now that her parents' bikes are gone.

"They got stolen," said Zoey.

Travis Bailey says he left the garage door open and the bikes were stolen.

"Now, I have to get a new bike. But no one was hurt," said Bailey.

That's what a lot of people have been saying after a man used a bb gun to break a window at the Nanni's house to steal a computer while they were home.

"We had four young children locked in a bedroom for 15 minutes before support arrived," said Lou Nanni.

Neighbors' emails chronicle the problems. In September, burglars tried to break into a home on Peashway Street. On that same night, a man found a gun in his yard a few blocks away. But police say they are seeing the same types of crime in other neighborhoods.

"They are career criminals. Unfortunately, they don't seem to leave the community Department of Corrections for a long time," said Chief Tom Fautz, South Bend Police Department.

But police say progress is being made.

"We have caught 12 burglars within a month from November to October. That's pretty big for a city of our size," said Chief Darryl Boykins.

And maybe the best indication of how bad it is -- everyone at Wednesday's Public Safety Committee meeting had their own story to tell.

"We've had cars left unlocked ransacked," said Al "Buddy" Kirsits, a South Bend Common Council member.

"Having had my house broken into and having actually apprehended an arsonist in my garage a few years ago, I know the fear it generates," said Mayor Steve Luecke, (D) South Bend.

Which is causing more people to close their curtains, turn on their lights, and in the Bailey's case, close the garage.

And neighbors are staying in touch with police by email -- which has worked in other neighborhoods too.

"We've been able to eliminate a lot of drug houses; we've been able to catch a lot of burglars with communication," said Derek Dieter, a South Bend Police officer and Common Council member.

Police say they will keep their website updated with the latest information. But the best way people can help is to call police to report incidents or any kind of suspicious activity.

Police say they've increased the patrols on the street and officers will make a better effort of going door to door to meet the neighbors.