While most of them were sleeping, some Squirrel Hill residents were victimized by burglars last week.

Pittsburgh police said the same burglars are suspected in similar break-ins outside the city as well, as far away as Harrison.

In at least two cases reported near the intersection of Beechwood Boulevard and Monitor Street and near Pittsburgh Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill, two suspects broke into homes after midnight and in the early morning hours of Aug. 9 and Aug. 18.

The owner of one of the houses was awake at the time and nearly confronted the burglars on the first floor, police said. The intruder fled after the resident heard noises downstairs and yelled that he was calling police, said burglary Detective Mike Pilyih.

The burglars stole credit cards and other property from both homes in Squirrel Hill. The cards were used a short time later at Wal-Mart stores in North Versailles and Natrona Heights before the victims knew their cards were missing.

In one instance, the burglars purchased electronic items and tried to return the purchases to the store for a cash refund. The store accepted the returned goods, but restored the credit to the victim's account, Detective Pilyih said.

Surveillance cameras at one of the stores captured images of the suspects in at least one case, police said. No arrests have been made.