BELL COUNTY (September 10, 2009) - The Bell County Sheriff's Department briefed concerned residents Thursday night on an investigation into a string of home invasions they believe to be connected.

Authorities say last month an elderly woman was attacked in her home in far eastern Bell County.

Three weeks before that, a similar attack involving an elderly woman occurred in Leon County.

Just last week, an elderly woman reported receiving a phone call asking if she would be home alone that night. She said yes, saying she didn't think about it. She called her family afterward, and they came to get her. The next day she came home and received a phone call, and the man on the other end was laughing. The next day, another woman in Leon county was the victim of a home invasion.

Authorities said they believe the suspect is doing surveillance on the homes. They said they believe the suspect has been in the home before the crimes occurred without the victims' knowledge.

Authorities said they don't know if the crimes in Bell and Leon counties are related. The investigation is ongoing.

In all of the incidents, the elderly women lived alone.