Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist said Tuesday that detectives are continuing to investigate a series of housebreaks reported in the Edgewood section of the city.

He said there is nothing new to report on the investigation, which was sparked by residents reporting four housebreaks, all in the Edgewood area, at the start of the past weekend. 

According to a press release issued by the Cranston Police Department, the break-ins took place on the followingstreets: one on Malvern Avenue, two on Alhambra Circle, and one on Broad Street. Based on the manner of entry and evidence collected, it appears that these crimes may have been committed by the same individual or individuals, the release stated.

Police have said that the suspect may still be on foot in the vicinity, and they urged the public to secure all doors and windows and report any suspicious activity of individuals by calling 911. People are cautioned not to approach the vicinity as he is presumed to be armed.

In the first incident on Malvern Avenue, the homeowner arrived home around 9:30 p.m. Thanksgiving night to find a man inside. The suspect pointed a handgun at the homeowner, and the weapon is believed to have been stolen from the residence. The suspect then jumped out a window and fled on foot.  Cash and other items were reported missing.

The suspect was described as a dark-skinned male wearing a gray camouflage sweatshirt and a hat, with hair protruding from beneath the sides of the hat. Patrol officers and a K-9 team responded immediately but were unable to locate the suspect. The suspect gained entry by smashing a basement window and ate food from the kitchen, police said.

Around 2:50 a.m. Friday, a homeowner on Alhambra Circle reported waking up to find a man inside hisresidence. The occupants chased the intruder out of the house, and no items were taken. The victim described thesuspect as a male with a medium build. He was reportedly wearing gray pants and a blue puffy jacket with a hood. Police said that the suspect likely gained entry by breaking a rear window and may have injured himself, as blood was found in that area.

Later on Friday, residents of a nearby home on Alhambra Circle reported that their residence and a detachedgarage had been broken into earlier in the day. They discovered that a power tool had been stolen from the garage,and a debit card, clothing, and a cell phone were missing from inside the residence.

Police said they also received a report of a break-in from homeowners on Broad Street within the same 24 to 48 hours. It is currently unknown if any items were taken, though blood was found on a screen door, and it appearsthe suspect also consumed food from their kitchen.

-- Barbara Polichetti