Detectives have appealed for information following a series of dwelling burglaries in the Brentwood area.

Fifteen burglaries and two attempted break-ins have occurred in the past two weeks, mainly at homes left unoccupied from early morning to late evening while the owners were at work.

Most of the incidents happened during late afternoons and at high-value homes where intruders entered through rear windows back doors and patio doors.

Small items such as jewellery, cash and laptops were taken but in two cases cars were driven away after the burglars found the ignition keys.

The burglaries were at Warley, Hutton, Ingatestone, Pilgrims Hatch, Kelvedon Hatch and central Brentwood. Seven were committed on Friday afternoon, November 21.

Extra police patrols are being carried out in these areas and a widespread leaflet and poster campaign will be launched.

PCSOs will be at railway stations to give commuters leaflets which warn of the dangers and give advice on crime prevention.

DI Stephen Ellis, who is leading the investigation, said: "There is no doubt that one group of thieves is targeting homes left unoccupied during the day, between Monday and Friday.

"We believe that most of the burglaries happen in mid to late afternoon, just as it starts to get dark. The thieves always go to the back of houses and might climb over side gates or rear fences.

"Once inside they usually bolt the front door, so they are clearly worried that they might be disturbed by someone perhaps returning home early from work.

"In most cases they escape the same way they broke in, leaving the returning householder to find the front door locked.

"We believe these are opportunist thieves who look for properties where no one is at home. As darkness falls they will target homes where there are no lights or no signs or sounds of anyone being in.

"One of the best deterrents is an automatic timer that turns on lights, radios, TVs to give the impression that someone is at home. All doors and windows should be securely locked and, ideally, alarm systems should be fitted to the whole property.

"We are launching a major publicity campaign to warn people and as well as giving out leaflets at mainline and Tube stations officers patrolling vulnerable areas will be leaving leaflets at homes that are unlit and appear to be unoccupied.”

Anyone with information about the burglaries should contact the Loughton CID burglary desk on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Anyone who sees a burglary in progress or sees people acting suspiciously in resident areas should call 999 immediately.