A COUPLE have been charged following a spate of jewellery thefts.

Mark Barrett, 34, and Nicola Finnegan, 32, were arrested at their home on Fairmead Avenue, Westcliff, on Tuesday morning.

Barrett was later charged with four counts of handling stolen goods, four counts of theft and one count of fraud while Finnegan was charged with two counts of handling stolen goods and two counts of theft. All the offences occurred throughout 2013 and early January.

Barrett appeared at Southend Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was released on bail. Finnegan is currently on police bail prior to her appearance at the court on February 7.

Detectives are seeking to reunite stolen jewellery items and toolboxes to their rightful owners in and around Southend, with homeowners as far as Basildon, Chelmsford and Romford potential victims of recent burglaries.

Anyone who believes the items belong to them should contact detectives at Southend police station on 101. They can be viewed at http://www.essex.police.uk/news_features/homepage_latest_news/is_this_recovered_property_you.aspx