WALHALLA — Over the past two months, a string of burglaries has targeted more than a half-dozen businesses in Oconee County that, according to a lead investigator in the cases, is taking on a disturbing pattern.

In all cases, the businesses have been broken into late at night or in the early morning hours. Storeowners or employees have arrived to open up for business to find buildings ransacked. They have found cash registers opened and, in some cases, money taken.

The majority of businesses hit have been convenience stores. Authorities say that ATM and lottery machines have been pried. In some cases, beer and cigarettes have been taken as well.

The list of burglarized convenience stores includes High Falls Express near West Union, Tunnel Town in Mountain Rest, Key Mart in Salem and Long Creek General Store in Walhalla. Also hit have been Frasier’s General Store in Walhalla, the VFW Club on Highlands Highway in Walhalla and Dairy Queen in West Union.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Arnold thinks more than one person is involved in these burglaries and his hunch is the same criminals are taking part.

“I think they are connected,” Arnold said of the burglaries Tuesday. “Right now we’re looking at the same set of suspects. We do have leads, but we’ve been unable to make an arrest. That’s why we’re asking for the public’s help.”

Arnold said the string of burglaries began in September and has continued through October. He thinks there’s been an increase in that type of criminal activity since the economy went from bad to worse.

The veteran investigator recommends that shopkeepers take money out of the store when they leave each day and leave the cash registers open to indicate there’s nothing in there. He also suggests that shopkeepers write down the tag number of anyone who is seen entering the store and acting in a suspicious manner.

Arnold added that a proprietor walking into a crime scene should not touch anything and immediately call 911.

Those with information about the burglaries may call CrimeStoppers at (864) 638-STOP.

“We’d like to get this stopped before someone gets hurt,” Arnold said.