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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Police in Columbia, Missouri are investigating Christmas burglaries at 19 homes.

The first reports of the break-ins were received in the early hours of Friday morning.

Police say a dozen homes were hit on a single Columbia street.

Seven others in the neighborhood were also burglarized.

The thieves broke doors and windows and made off mostly with small electronics and flat-screen televisions.

Columbia police spokeswoman Jessie Haden says investigators believe the burglaries are related to another string of break-ins that occurred in November and December.

The city had 42 home burglaries in November and 72 so far this month.

Thirteen people in Columbia were arrested recently for burglaries, mostly involving electronics.

Haden says police believe those behind the break-ins have been trying to sell the stolen

items.

Information from: KMIZ-TV, http://www.kmiz.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)