The Madison County Sheriff's Department is investigating four burglaries that occurred this week in the rural eastern area of the county.

Investigators were not sure if the cases were connected, said Capt. T. Mike Dixon.

Three of the burglaries happened Wednesday:

* A 32-inch Samsung television was stolen from a home in the 5000 block of Hoxey Drive in Alhambra.

* A black Compaq Presario laptop computer was stolen from a home in the 12000 block of Mill Road in New Douglas.

* A Craftsman wheel barrel, a socket set and numerous power tools were stolen from a detached garage in the first block of Deer Run East in Pocahontas.

On Thursday, the sheriff's department investigated a burglary to an unlocked vehicle in the first block of Deer Run East in Pocahontas. Jewelry, a credit card and other personal items were taken.

Dixon said the person of interest was captured on a surveillance camera Wednesday at a business in Collinsville, using the stolen credit card.

The suspect appeared to be young, white, with a thin build, wearing jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt; investigators could not determine the sex of the suspect. Dixon said the subject purchased a dark casual dress hat, and is believed to have been an occupant of a white passenger vehicle.

Anyone with information about any of these crimes should call the sheriff's department at 618- 692-0871 or the anonymous tip line at 618-296-3000.