UPDATE 9/19/12 @ 9:30 p.m.
PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Beverly Howard doesn't trust your typical door lock. These nights, she's sleeping with chairs jammed under door knobs for extra protection.

"I'm a single woman who lives alone," Howard says. "I can't sleep knowing someone could break into my home."

In Portsmouth, people are talking about a string of home invasions on the north side of town.

"It's someone who's not afraid of confrontation," Portsmouth Police Capt. Lynn Brewer said. "Someone who's bold, someone who's brazen."

A total of four homes have been burglarized -- many of them at night with homeowners inside.

"One gentleman actually woke up and the guy was crouched down at the foot of his bed," Brewer says. "When he got up the guy said, 'Give me your money.' They ended up in a struggle."

No one's been hurt, and Portsmouth Police want to keep it that way. Their hope is the case is solved sooner rather than later.

"They usually end up getting caught," Brewer says. "Our hope is we're able to catch them and put an end to it before someone's hurt."

"There are brazen crooks out there" says Portsmouth Police Captain Lynn Brewer. "Someone's not afraid to be confrontational."

The city's north side has seen a rash of nighttime home invasions.

"Oh, they got us and got us good," says one resident on Gilbert Avenue who wants to remain anonymous. "We woke up with the window open and a busted screen. The computer, kitchen TV, cash from our wallets, you name it; all gone."

Captain Brewer says that. so far, four homes have been targeted. Two of the homes are on Gilbert Avenue, another in the 2100 Block of 21st and another, still, in the 21 block of Argonne.

"Let the police department know ASAP if you see anyone suspicious in your neighborhood," Captain Brewer says. "Try to make sure the back of your house is well lit."

Newschannel Three's Bill Murray found some ways people in the neighborhood are fighting back.

Details coming up, this evening, on WSAZ's First at Five.