CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Some University of Virginia students returning from winter break are encountering an unwelcome surprise: missing stuff and vandalism.

At the SERP fraternity house, thieves kicked in doors and popped out panels so they could reach in and unlock the doors. They grabbed anything of value: digital cameras, musical equipment, TVs, laptops.

But stealing wasn't enough. They also vandalized.

When Justin Maxey came back from winter break, he arrived to find the first floor covered in foam from a fire extinguisher.

"Most of this room all of this was white, like snow," Maxey said.

Charlottesville police said it is just one of almost 60 off-campus homes targeted by the same three burglars since late summer. The thieves have made off with more than $100,000 in loot, police said.

Investigators say the thieves use their real names at pawn shops and say the bulk of the crimes happened over winter break.

On-campus dorms were locked down over winter break, so they were protected from the burglary spree.

The two men and one woman suspected in the string of burglaries are still on the loose, police said.

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