A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged with burgling nine homes across Basildon - and stealing five cars.

Pamusa Manneh, 18, of Deneway, Basildon, admitted a total of 24 offences at Basildon Magistrates Court, including dishonestly removing stolen goods, four counts of driving without insurance, four counts of driving without a licence and failing to stop for police.

The court heard that he burgled homes in Dengayne in Basildon, Glenmere in Vange, Chittock Gate and Takely Ride in Basildon.

All the offences took place between July last year and March this year.

In one case, he admitted dishonestly removing a Ford Mondeo, an LG flat screen TV, an Xbox 360 console, a fishing holdall and Amaretto liquor, worth a total of £3,345.

In one burglary in St Michaels Avenue, Pitsea, he admitted stealing a Nissan car, a wallet and car keys, together worth £10,100.

Det Supt Kevin Baldwin, area Supt, said that police need to monitor teenagers when they are released from prison to make sure that they do not continue to turn to crime.

He said: "This case follows several others where young males were targeting addresses in Basildon often in order to steal vehicles.

“This defendant was working with others to break into people’s homes.

“A number of these young people have been convicted and are now in prison where they belong.

“Our job will be to continue to monitor them when they are released and prevent them committing further offences.

“In the whole of the Basildon there are now an average of three burglaries a day.

“This is less than half what it was following the imprisonment of several people.

“Three is still three too many and I will continue to dedicate officers to burglary and we will use whatever lawful means are available to prevent, catch and convict them.”

Manneh will appear at Basildon Crown Court on May 3 for sentence.

Anyone with information about burglaries across Basildon can call Essex Police on 101 - or they can alternatively crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.