SEVEN houses have been ransacked in two days.

Affluent properties in Benfleet were turned upside down by a gang of burglars who stole jewellery and electrical goods.

Six raids were carried out on Monday in Shipwrights Drive, Common Road and The Chase in Thundersley, and Vicarage Hill, Granville Close and Kents Hill Road, in Benfleet. On Sunday, a home in Kimberley Road, Benfleet, was raided.

On each occasion, the gang trashed the homes as they ran through the properties to get their hands on valuable items.

Police believe several crooks are working in a group, and may have used a getaway vehicle to travel between homes.

Det Sgt Julie Gowen said: “The houses were absolutely ransacked.

“The sofas were turned over, drawers pulled out, clothes scattered everywhere. It’s a really unusual modus operandi.

“It’s sheer devastation for those residents and the fact the houses have been ransacked adds to that distress and upset.” The officer is heading up a new team dedicated to tackling burglary across Castle Point.

She has dedicated an officer from the team to investigate the burglaries.

They all took place in the afternoon or early evening and in most cases a window was forced so the crooks could gain entry.

Det Sgt Gowen added: “We had this last year in the build-up to Christmas, where the clocks go back and there is a time between 3.30pm and 7pm where light is fading and people haven’t yet come home from work.

“I appeal to the public to be extremely vigilant. We really need their help – any vehicle in their roads they don’t recognise please call us on 101, or, if they see a crime in progress, call 999.

“We also need them to be careful around their home security. A lot of the raids on Monday were when the burglars had gone around the rear of the property.

“Tighten security, make sure gates are locked and windows and doors double-locked.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101.