THE latest householder to fall victim to burglars who have been on a spree in recent days says his new year’s resolution is to make his home safer.

Intruders broke into the man’s home in Dandies Drive , Eastwood, some time between 3pm on Saturday and 10.45am the next day.

His family returned home to find the back door open and a window smashed and an iPad, cash, a wallet and jewellery worth more than £100 missing.

The man, who asked not to be named, said the experience had made him his family think afresh about home security.

He said: “We think we should take more precautions in the future, so we’ll definitely be getting an alarm now.

“Everyone knows someone this has happened to, but you don’t start thinking about any of it until it happens to you.

“We went out for just one day and, when we came back in the morning, the whole house had been turned over.

“A lot of the things, such as watches and jewellery, you can’t really put a price on, because they were given by family members.

“We’re just trying to make everything as normal as possible and move on.”

Police were also called at the weekend about a second break in, about a mile away, in Bolney Drive.

The occupants were on holiday and the break-in was reported shortly after 5pm on Sunday. Panels in the backdoor were smashed to allow a key, left in the lock, to be turned to get into the to the house.

Leigh-based Insp Brad Dickel said his officers had notice an increase in the number of burglaries in Leigh and Eastwood in the run-up to the festive season, but felt the whole of Southend had also seen an increase.

He added: “It happens every year, as it coincides with the clocks going back and nights getting longer, making it easier for burglars to tell which houses are empty.

“Part of what we are doing in Leigh is educating people to leave lights on timers and to make sure windows are closed.

“Things like that make it harder for the burglars and make it less likely such homes will be targeted. “ Anyone with information about either of the burglaries is asked to call Southend CID on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 888111.