HOUSEHOLDERS in Basildon are being warned to lock up after burglars targeted 11 homes in four days.

The houses, all in the Whitmore Way area, were burgled, between Thursday and Sunday.

In one incident, a 28-year-old man woke up to find two prowlers trying to get in. He chased them off down the street in the middle of the night.

Most of the other incidents were at night and police are now making regular night-time patrols of the area to reassure residents.

They are also urging people to make their homes are secure before they turn in for the night.

Sgt Paul Costin, from the Basildon neighbourhood policing team, said: “We have seen a trend in burglaries in the Whitmore Way area and also in streets surrounding Broadmayne.

“The majority of the break-ins happened at the weekend and at night time. In a couple of the incidents, the burglars got in through unlocked doors. We would urge everyone to ensure their homes are secure and also ask residents who see anyone acting suspiciously to contact us, either by dialling 101 or 999.”

11 incidents in just four days

Spenders Close, Basildon
between 5.10am and 6am,
February 5 Burglars forced open
the front door of the house, stole
the keys to a silver Ford Fiesta and
took it, along with a purse and two
phones. The total value was £1,030.


WhitmoreWay, Basildon between
midnight and 7.10am, February 2
Thieves got in through an unlocked
front door and stole keys to a Ford
Focus, which they took, along with
a mobile phone, a wallet and an
iPad 2, worth £1,300 in all.


Pendle Drive, Basildon, between
1.30am and 6.30am, February 5
Thieves forced the front door and
took a purse, credit cards, cash, a
phone and an iPad, together worth
£1,700.


Cattawade Link, Basildon,
between midnight and 9.45am,
February 7 Burglars got in through
an unlocked back door and took a
watch, cash and tobacco, together
worth £78.


Pattiswick Square, Pitsea
between 6am and 10am,
February 7 Thieves forced the front
door and took a laptop, mobile
phone, handbag and car keys.


Hockley Close, Basildon,
between 3.30am and 6am,
February 7 Burglars forced open
the front door and stole keys, a
wallet, an iPhone and a Motorola
tablet. Total value was £670.


WhitmoreWay, Basildon,
between 7pm and 10.45pm,
February 7 Thieves forced the
front door and stole a laptop, wallet
and cash, worth £415 in total.


Danbury Down, Basildon,
between 3pm and 8.15pm,
February 7 Thieves broke into the
house by forcing the back door and
stole a PlayStation 4 games
console.


Riffhams Court, Basildon at
11pm, February 4 Householder
disturbed an intruder, trying to
break in to their shed. The suspect
made off over the fence and into a
nearby car park.


Cowslip Mead, Basildon, at
7.10pm, February 5
A householder returning home
disturbed a black-clad burglar trying
to force a back window. The man
was aged between 20 and 30.


Hockley Green, Basildon, at
3.50am, February 7
A 28-year-old man awoke to hear
noises. He went downstairs,
opened the front door and saw two
men trying to break in. They ran off
and he chased them down
the street.