POLICE believe that a spate of burglaries in one day in Worcester were carried out by thieves who travelled to the city to target unlit homes – and one resident says there has been an increase in crime since a new housing estate was built.

Burglars struck at six homes in the Bevere and Northwick areas on Friday afternoon and early evening.

Four homes in Northwick and Bevere were targeted including two in Bevere Close, which were broken into between 1.45pm and 6.30pm.

Another two houses were burgled in the Northwick area, in Northwick Road, between 1pm and 6pm.

Detective Inspector Dave Knight said police suspect that the criminals travelled from "outside of the local area" to carry out the burglaries at homes which were dark and thus appeared to be empty.

Resident Stephen Hanks, of Bevere Close, told the Worcester News yesterday that he believes there has been an increase in crime in the area.

Mr Hanks lives across the street from two properties which were burgled on Friday, January 11.

The 56-year-old said: “I’ve been living here for 52 years and I would have always described the area as a safe place before. I am surprised all these break-ins have happened in the same area.

“It’s all been kicking off since we have had the new housing estate built (Cherry Orchard, off Ombersley Road). Over the past two years we have had more crime in the area. Three months ago, my van got broken into. They rifled through my belongings although nothing was stolen.

“I am usually at home during the day, however last Friday I left my house at around 12.30pm so missed it all.

“My neighbour told me he was out of his house all day and got robbed on Friday. He said the burglars went through the back and broke into the patio window to get in. He told me £150 was stolen from the kid’s money tin. They forced open the money box and stole the child’s savings.

“Next-door also got robbed. They said their jewellery was stolen and the robbers had raided through their wardrobes and chucked all the clothes on the floor.”

Money and jewellery were stolen in the spate of burglaries.

Regarding the two houses which were burgled in Northwick Road, jewellery was stolen from one home but nothing was taken from the other property.

If anyone in the area has any CCTV from Friday afternoon and early evening, or has seen anything suspicious, they are asked to call police on 101 quoting either 0548s 110119 or 0577s 110119.

Detective Inspector Dave Knight said: "These offences would have taken place as it got dark and it is suspected that unlit houses were targeted as they looked empty.

"Police have a number of leads that they are following up. The offences are clearly linked, we know that by looking at the method of entry used, timings, and type of property stolen.

"As with all house burglaries we will be using a breadth of resources to identify the offenders including our forensics team, uniform, and detective officers. Safer neighbourhood police officers will be working in the area over the next few days to help reduce the chance of further offences.

"I can say that it appears that the offenders were not from the local area and the investigation also involves enquiries with other police forces across the country."

He added: "I know that this is small comfort to the victims of this more recent spate of crimes but it may help the community to understand that Worcester city has seen 36 less burglary dwelling crimes in the past rolling 12 months compared with the year before.

"Worcester city has had less burglary of dwellings in the last rolling 12 months compared with annual figures in the past five years.

"Let me be clear that one house burglary is one too many and I together with my police colleagues are doing all we can to prevent these crimes from happening, and when they do we do all we can to bring the offenders to justice."

Also on Friday, an intruder broke the glass of a back door to break into a home in Laslett Street, off Rainbow Hill.

The break-in happened between the hours of 8.10am and 6.30pm. Nothing was taken from the home on that occasion.

Again, if anyone has any CCTV or has seen anyone acting suspiciously, contact the police on 101 quoting 0571s 110119.

On the same day, also in the Rainbow Hill area, between 5pm and 10pm, a home on Green Lane, near Merrimans Hill, was burgled. The intruder damaged a latch to a window to break into the property and, again, jewellery was stolen.

If anyone in the area has any CCTV or information regarding the burglaries, contact the police on 101 and quote either 0044s 120119 or 0553s 110119.

Police have reminded residents that, if a burglary is in progress, they should call 999.