RESIDENTS concerned about a surge in burglaries has left Langdon Hills residents calling for a public meeting.

In the past month there have been 26 burglaries in the Laindon area.

In one of the most recent incidents in Langdon Hills, police scrambled the force helicopter and sniffer dogs after a man caught a would-be thief in his kitchen.

The man had just gone into the kitchen of his partner's home in the Barnyard to make a cup of tea when he found a man who had sneaked in the back door.

He chased him out and saw another man, waiting behind the garden fence, who was believed to be an accomplice.

Julie Bird, 44, who owns the house, said the attempted burglary came just weeks after crooks broke in, took the keys to her £4,000 Ford Puma and drove away in it.

She said: "Getting burgled is a really terrible experience. It makes you feel violated and it is frightening. I am concerned about the number of burglaries in the area."

She said residents planned to set up a meeting to discuss security measures, which hey hope police and MP Angela Smith will attend.

She added: "People do moan about the police, but they came out so quickly and two officers, sniffer dogs and the helicopter came out to me. I couldn't have asked for anymore."

Mrs Smith said she was aware of concern over the burglaries. She said: "I have asked for a meeting with police to talk about what they are doing."

Det Sgt Colin Norton urged homeowners to do their bit and protect their properties. He said: "People need to make sure they shut their windows and lock all of their doors, even if they are just popping out for a few minutes.

"They also need to make sure they keep any keys, particularly those to their homes and cars, locked away and not near doors or windows where they can easily be taken by thieves."