TWO men are being hunted by police after an elderly couple woke to find them in their bedroom.

The terrified couple were asleep in their bungalow in North Crescent, Southend, when they woke to find burglars ransacking their bedroom.

The burglars stole the couple’s mobile phones, some cash and car keys before fleeing.

They are the latest elderly victims to fall prey to the thieves, who also targeted homes in Benfleet and Leigh on January 2 to steal cash and jewellery.

Det Sgt Ian Howitt, the investigating officer, urged people to make sure their homes were safe.

He said: “We ask people, young or old, to carry out a final latenight check of their property before turning in for the night.

“Look at your windows and doors, make sure they are closed and then securely locked, double- locking if possible. We need to cut off the supply to these burglars and also take them off the streets, which is why we also need people to report any suspicious activity to us immediately.”

The couple were woken by the men between 1.45am and 2.45am on Wednesday.

They stole the items before fleeing the house, but despite police searching the area with the force’s helicopter, the men could not be found.

Officers have carried out a forensic examination of the house and are conducting doorto- door inquiries in a bid to find the men.

The men are white and police are urging anyone with information about the latest break-in or the previous two, to contact them on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.