Ashford homes targeted by letterbox burglars

At about 3am the burglars broke into the Avondale Road house by reaching through the letterbox and pulling the door handle and stole a mobile phone worth about £150 before being disturbed and fleeing.

They then broke into the Gordon Road home using the same method and stole two laptops and a mobile phone before taking the keys to a black Mercedes parked on the driveway and escaping in the vehicle.

A relative of one of the victims said: "It's horrible to think that someone has been rifling through your belongings while you are upstairs sleeping.

"People need to deadlock their doors from the inside because if you look at how many homes they tried in one night, these people are bound to strike again.

"I didn't used to lock my door from the inside at night but I always will now. A lot of people don't lock themselves in because they are worried about getting stuck in an emergency but it's so important to do so."

The suspects are believed to have tried doors at other properties nearby, including two homes in Windsor Drive, and police have warned residents in the area to double lock their doors at night.

A red Honda civic spotted in the area with three men acting suspiciously could be linked to the crimes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0845 125 2222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.