PUBS HIT FOR £5,000

Some of the raids took place in pubs' private quarters while they were open for business.

At the Mount Pleasant Inn in London Road, Worcester, keys were taken between 9pm on Saturday and 9am on Sunday.

Meanwhile, £1,700 was taken from the Old Oak in Drakes Broughton between 5pm on Saturday and 4pm on Sunday and £1,400 was taken from the Bear Hotel in Port Street, Evesham, between 7.30pm and 9.15pm on Saturday.

More than £500 cash and jewellery was taken from the Bell Inn in Cropthorne, Pershore, between 10.30pm on Saturday and 12.10am on Sunday and The Horse & Hounds in High Street, Broadway, was targeted twice.

Thieves stole £700 between 8.45pm and midnight on Saturday and £1,600 between 3.45pm and 4.20pm on Sunday.

West Mercia Constabulary is also investigating similar earlier incidents in Herefordshire.

Mike Stevens, spokesman for the Worcestershire Licensed Victuallers Association, said landlords should be particularly wary at this time of year.

"People behind the bar need to be incredibly alert," he added. "If people can see that the licensees are behind the bar they know that it is likely the private quarters will be empty.

"It is vital to keep all doors leading from the bar to offices or living quarters locked at all times to prevent this kind of thing happening again."

A police spokesman said there may be a number of other pubs that could be targeted using the same methods that have been used.

"We would, therefore, urge publicans to critically review their security immediately in order to help prevent further offences," he added.

"We would also encourage them not to keep large amounts of cash on their premises and to bank more often, particularly during the run-up to and during Christmas and the New Year when takings are expected to be higher."

South Worcestershire Police want to hear from anyone who was near the five premises during the given times and saw anything suspicious.

They can be contacted on 08457 444888.