What's bugging you, Mid-Michigan? This week, a group of mothers in a South Lansing neighborhood says a series of break-ins is what's bugging them.

Residents at homes in the Highland Association say they are scared after a string of burglaries in their neighborhood, and they want the crimes to be taken more seriously.

"This is an oasis on the South Side of Lansing," said Bambi Vanwoert, a resident at Highland Association.

But residents say lately there has been an increase in robberies, break-ins, and car theft. Last week, resident April Jones-Cole's home was broken into, and some family heirlooms were stolen.

"I feel so violated," Jones-Cole said. "To know someone was going through my things, going through my kids things. I've never felt so horrible."

April isn't alone. According to crimemappers.com, there have been seven reported cases of burglary, four cases of car theft, and two cases of larceny in a half-mile radius of the Highland Association, all in the past five months.

"To us, it's really frustrating," said Elizabeth Nixon, who has lived in the Highland Association for five years. "We've had two bikes stolen. Our car has been gone through two or three times."

The women are now looking for action, whether its action from fellow residents or from the Lansing Police Department.

"I don't see police officers in the area, especially during the day," said Vanwoert. "I would love to see patrols stepped up in this area."

They hope to achieve one common goal.

"We want whoever is doing this to know that we're not going to stand for it," Vanwoert said.

"I want a safe neighborhood," said Jones-Cole.

News 10 made several calls to the Lansing Police Department to ask what they're doing about the break-ins, but the calls were not returned.

News 10 also called management at the Highland Association. Those calls were not returned either.

However, a member of the Highland Association Board said they are working to install brighter porch lights throughout the neighborhood, and would welcome any suggestions from residents.

If the Lansing Police Department can't step up patrols in the area, the residents say they hope the police, or the Highland Association, will at least provide them the tools to create an organized neighborhood crime watch.