OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Oceanside resident Zach Hoffman's home was burglarized.

"It's just a very scary thing. We're fortunate that they just took items and left," said Hoffman. "It feels like you're recovering from being kicked in the stomach; you just don't feel safe where you felt safe for so long."

Oceanside police said one more burglars entered Hoffman's home on Via Malaguena -- while his family was home -- and another home a block away on Manteca Drive on Wednesday.

"We know he walked into our bedroom because the door was ajar. He entered while we were asleep in bed, walked right beside us and took things off end stands and off the floors," said Hoffman.

What was even more frightening for Hoffman was that the burglar was also in his daughter's room.

"He opened up the door and picked up her laptop and iPod right there as she slept … so he was very close," said Hoffman.

Neighbors said it is upsetting to think a burglar can be so brazen.

"Well it's terrifying. I got a call the next morning from another neighbor," said resident Shawn Wildern.

Another neighbor said, "It's shocking to think that someone's got the gumption to go into someone else's house while they're still in it and take their stuff."

Police said residents should check to make sure their doors and windows are locked.

An ounce of prevention could go a long way, police said.

"We found out that the more difficult they make it for an intruder to come into your home, the less likely they are to be the victim of a crime," said Sgt. Kelan Poorman of the Oceanside Police Department.

It is a lesson Hoffman has taken to heart as he takes steps to protect his home.

"I installed some extra locks, I put these in all of the sliding windows, anything to offer resistance," said Hoffman.

Hoffman's neighbors are heeding the same lesson.

"We had an alarm system activated today, but I hadn't been scared before. But now we are," said one resident.