THREE houses were broken into in Claines on Thursday and Friday following a spate of burglaries in the area.

Jewellery has been taken from six homes in the area during break-ins which have mostly been carried out at evenings when residents have been out.

A patio door was forced open and jewellery and credit cards taken from a house in St Anne's Road between 5.30pm and 7.10pm on Friday.

The same evening, jewellery and money was stolen from a home on Northwick Road between 5.30pm and 6.15pm.

Thieves forced their way into the house through the patio door.

On Thursday, a house in Beckett Close, Northwick was broken into through the patio door and a laptop and a small amount of cash was taken.

The break-in occurred between 7.35am and 6.50pm.

Extra patrols, visits to residents and an intelligence-led investigation will take place as part of an operation launched by the Citadel anti-burglary initiative.

The area was also hit by three more break-ins at the end of October.

A large amount of jewellery with sentimental value was taken from a home in Green Lane, Bevere.

The conservatory door had been forced open at some point between Friday, October 26 and Wednesday, October 31.

Money, jewellery and personal documents were also taken from a house in Northwick Avenue between 5.15pm on Tuesday, October 30 and 4.30pm on Wednesday, October 31 October.

Jewellery was also taken from a house in Ombersley Road between 9.30am and 7pm on Tuesday, October 30.

Detective Inspector Richard Rees of Worcester CID's Proactive Team, which investigates burglaries, said that most of the Claines burglaries had taken place when people had left their homes to go shopping, to attend doctor's appointments or to work.

"Jewellery has been taken in many of the burglaries that happened in Claines and elsewhere in the county.

"I would advise that jewellery should be kept out of sight and in as secure a place as possible.

"Also, take photos of your jewellery if it is of sentimental value or distinctive and this can help us in our attempts to trace your items if the worst happens and they are stolen."

Anyone with information should call the non-emergency number 101.