Testimony began Tuesday in the trial of a man accused of being the "puppet master" in a string of burglaries in Uptown and other neighborhoods in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Prosecutors say Damon West engaged in organized crime by manipulating at least 11 people to work as part of a conspiracy to burglarize at least 51 people. So far, four people have been charged, but others could face prosecution.

West could face life in prison if a Dallas County jury convicts him of being involved in the crime spree that broke into homes from September 2007 until even after West's arrest in July. Prosecutors say he was giving orders from the Dallas County Jail about how to move property and what to sell on eBay.

"We want you to know how big this is. We want you to know the full size and specter," said Dallas County prosecutor Jenni Morse. "He's just the puppet master up there, callin' all the shots."

But defense attorney Ed Sigel denied there was any conspiracy. He didn't admit West was involved in burglaries but said he could have asked friends for favors. That, he said, did not constitute a conspiracy to engage in organized crime.

"What are they going to prove?" Sigel said to jurors in opening statements. "I'm going to tell you nothing."

West is the first person to go to trial in connection with the burglaries. The trials of Dustin Kienzlen and Virginia Oates are pending on charges of engaging in organized crime. Another man, Anthony Britt, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

Burglary victims testified Tuesday that in addition to items being stolen, they came home from trips to find that food had been spread all over their homes and all of their belongings had been gone through.

"Someone had a field day," testified Dana Brown, who was in Austin when her apartment was burglarized.

Others said they thought their beds had been slept in.

Burglars also broke into the home of a Dallas police offer and stole his duty weapon and badge. They also stole an engagement ring of a woman whose fiance died in Iraq. The ring was recovered. The gun and badge were not.