Police have offered advice to residents following a spate of daytime and early evening burglaries around Bitterne Park, Bitterne Manor, and Peartree since December 20.

Cash, jewellery and other items have been taken, with access sometimes gained through insecure windows and doors.

Police are reminding residents to be “aware but not alarmed”, and have suggested ways to deter opportunist burglars, including shutting and locking doors and windows whenever possible, keeping keys out of sight and away from windows and letterboxes, leaving lights on and using timers to make empty properties look occupied, locking side gates and installing other security measures like alarms, door chains and spy holes where possible.

Anyone with information about recent incidents can get in touch with police by phoning 101 and quoting 44150457583, or by calling the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.