IF you fail to double lock your front door before going upstairs to bed every night you are inviting burglars into your home- that is the message from a top cop.

Sgt Al Burridge, part of Basildon's policing team, is growing increasingly frustrated with people not ensuring their homes are fully secure.

Everyday officers in the borough receive reports of at least one millennium burglary- where thieves burgle break into houses to steal keys before driving off with the homeowners cars while they sleep.

"If you are not going to double lock your UPVC door then you are going to lose your car", Mr Burridge said.

Investigations show in nine out of ten incidents burglars get into homes by using a screwdriver to open the door lock.

This cannot be done when doors are double locked, police claim.

Mr Burridge said: "Unfortunately in the last two weeks, we have had ten millennium burglaries in the Basildon district. There were ten offences but sometimes more than one car was stolen - in fact we had one incident when two were stolen from the same address.

"We are experiencing about one millennium burglary a day and 90 per cent of the time - literally nine out of the 10 cases - they are popping open the front door with a screwdriver.

"They are in and out in no time at all. The burglary can be over in about 15 minutes.

"They are doing this because it's easy as people just aren't lifting the handle and turning the key.

"It's the most frustrating thing for us that people just aren't properly locking their door - they are not doing all they can to prevent burglaries."

Your home should be your fortress, according to Mr Burridge.

"Mend your broken gate, shut your windows, install CCTV cameras.

"Give a message to burglars that your home is tough to break into and they will likely stay away", he said.

A vicar whose home was ransacked by burglars has backed Mr Burridge's simple advice and tough stance.

Thieves forced their way into Rev Stephen Robertson's rectory in Castledon Road, Downham, near Wickford, in April by jemmying open a window and breaking the lock.

Once inside, they trashed his study and stole eight irreplaceable war medals, which he kept in a wooden box in his dining room.

Three of the First World War service medals, known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred, belonged to his grandfather Edward Robertson, who served as a gunner in the Army.

They still have not been found.

Mr Robertson, 56, a rector for Downham, South Hanningfield and Ramsden Bellhouse, said: "I will be making the rectory more secure.

"I am going to have more locks fitted to the windows.

"In my case, they jemmied open a window and broke the locks on it so an additional lock would have made it far more difficult for them to do so.

"But if they are going to use absolute and brute force, I wonder what more can you do?

"I do think that the more difficult you make it for them then the more it will deter them.

"It's something that I have learnt the hard way.

"It's definitely a worthwhile precaution to use an extra lock if you have it - you would be silly not to use it."

Anyone with information about burglaries in Basildon can call the community policing team on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.