RESIDENTS have been urged to take keys, handbags and small electrical items upstairs to their bedroom at night in a bid to combat a spate of burglaries.

Crime scene investigator Sarah Morgan, who covers the Harlow, Brentwood and Grays districts, has issued the warning following an increase in break-ins in Stanford-le-Hope.

She said that from December, the town has experienced a surge of at least 27 burglaries, all localised to roads off Branksome Avenue.

Crime scene investigators are normally called to the town about once or twice a day, but they have been experiencing at least five call-outs daily recently.

She said: “It was worse over December but we are still getting them crop up all over the place.

“The burglars are getting inside in all manner of means but it always seems to be in the early hours of the morning.

“More often than not, we are finding that someone has been getting in by using a tool to open the front UPVC doors.

“Wooden doors don’t seem to be affected.”

She suggested that homeowners should make sure that their front doors are double locked with a key, rather than just pulling handles upwards.

She added: “We are finding that cars are being taken as well after burglars have searched through kitchens and living rooms to find keys.

“People need to make sure that any small electricals, such as iPads, are charged elsewhere.

“Keys, handbags and wallets should be taken upstairs with you when you go to bed.”

So far, nobody has been arrested in connection with the burglaries and police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information about the break-ins can call Essex Police on 101 or crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Alternatively they can visit crimestoppers-uk.org and fill out an online form.