SHOP owners have been urged to install alarms connected to the police following of break-ins at newsagents.

Officers have issued the advice following reports burglars raided McColls, at the Triangle shops, in Langdon Hills, five times in less than a fortnight.

McColls convenience store, in Felmores End, Pitsea, was also targeted twice in one week.

In most of the incidents, cash and cigarettes were stolen.

PC Marek Jaworski, based in Basildon, said the community policing team was proactively reviewing CCTV, speaking to shop owners and residents, as well as carrying out covert patrols.

He said: "We have got an operation in place to try and catch them in the act and arrest those responsible.

"We have also been in to see the businesses affected the most and we have tried to help them with their security by giving our advice.

"It is important to have alarms that are directly linked to Essex Police, so we are aware of the situation straight away."

Mr Jaworski also warned that thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes could be sold on the black market following the thefts.

He said: "There has been such a large amount of cigarettes taken in a short space of time, these clearly aren't being used by one person.

"We think that the burglars are selling these cigarettes and they are now available on the streets of Basildon.

"We want to know of anyone who has been offered cigarettes for sale."

Burglars forced the rear door of the Triangle store for the first time at about 2.50am on Sunday, May 1 and stole money and cigarettes.

The shop, which opened in November, was broken into again at about 1.50am the following day.

Once again, cigarettes were stolen.

Since then local residents have called police to report more burglaries and people acting suspiciously in the area.

In both incidents at the Pitsea store, thieves struck in the middle of the night, using a crowbar to force open the doors.

The Post Office, which is based inside the shop, was forced to close after the counter was damaged in one of the break-ins.

Investigations into the burglaries are continuing and so far no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted via crimestoppers-uk.org.