RESIDENTS are being urged to keep their doors and windows locked during the Christmas period after burglars forced their way into insecure homes across Andover.

Police have sent a warning to homeowners across the town, reminding them to secure their belongings indoors as they go out to celebrate the festive season.

The message comes after a spate of incidents that saw three homes targeted by thieves in the space of just three days.

A television was stolen from a house in Camelot Close in the first of the incidents on Monday December 8, before burglars made off with a laptop after breaking into a property in Lark Close between Tuesday December 9 and Wednesday December 10.

An iPad was also taken from a home Plover Close on the same day, before two more iPads were stolen from a house in Genoa Court exactly one week later, on Wednesday December 17, along with jewellery and other electrical goods worth hundreds of pounds.

In all of these incidents, entry was gained through insecure doors.

Details of the raids have been revealed as police bid to crack down on festive thieves across Test Valley.

As previously reported by the Andover Advertiser, Hampshire Constabulary set up Operation Scrooge and Operation Wolf in a bid to beat criminals operating across the borough this winter.

But officers are appealing for residents to keep to their end of the bargain in the bid to stamp out the thefts.

PC Dave Mills said: “The simple message is lock it or lose it. Opportunist thieves will take advantage of insecure homes and vehicles so please ensure you lock your doors, windows and cars and keep your valuables out of sight.

“I would also urge local residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to police.”

Anyone with any information about these incidents is asked to contact PC Mills at Basingstoke Police Station on 101 or call the charity Crimestoppers line anonymously on 0800 555 111.