Officials with the Marshall County Sheriff's Office said they believe an increase in burglaries is directly related to an escalating drug problem in the Northern Panhandle.

Sheriff-elect Kevin Cecil, who is still the chief deputy until Jan. 1, said the office is receiving burglary reports daily. Cecil said most of the burglaries in recent months have happened in the rural and southern parts of the county.

Cecil said there's no doubt that the burglaries are drug-related.

"The suspects that we are aware of we can link to our drug problem, and that is why my priority is to focus on our drug problem. I think if we put a dent into this, it will decrease some of the other crimes we have," he said.

Cecil said in some cases, people aren't locking their doors and most of the burglaries are happening at night. He said burglaries are the least-reported crimes and the most difficult to solve.

To help curb the crimes, Cecil said when he takes over as sheriff, he will work to start up a watch group.

Anyone with information about any burglaries or other crimes is asked to call police or the NEWS9 Lauttamus Security Crime Busters Tipline at 800-862-BUST. Tips can also be emailed to crimebusters@wtov.com.