AN ALARMING number of burglaries have hit the Rochford district....with 15 break-ins in just two days.

Police believe there are two separate gangs who have been breaking into houses for jewellery, cash, and electrical goods.

The key areas that have been hit the Grange area of Rayleigh, central Rochford, but also areas of Hockley and Hullbridge.

Insp Chris Wood, of Castle Point police, said: “This is an unusually large and concentrated series of offences within a short period of time.”

It is particularly shocking as the Rochford district is usually such a low-crime area. In August, there were just nine break-ins in Rayleigh, six in Rochford, and nine in Hockley according to the police.uk website.

Insp Wood said: “We increased patrols on Wednesday evening and yesterday in respect of these areas and investigations are ongoing in respect of the offences reported to us so far.

"We’d ask for anyone who has seen anything suspicious to contact us immediately and for people to ensure their houses are properly secured when they leave them, especially at night when they are going to bed.”

He said the reports had started coming in on Wedenesday before police began to see a pattern emerging.

There are two very distinctive MOs which would suggest there are different groups committing the crimes. The roads hit include Eastwood Road and Dorothy Farm Road, and the Little Wheatley estate in Rayleigh. In Hullbridge, a house in Mayfield Avenue was ransacked. Anyone with information should call Southend Target Offender Team on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.