RESIDENTS are being urged to avoid making their homes into soft targets after thieves broke into two Leigh homes where keys had been left in locks.

Intruders broke into both the homes, on Dandies Drive and Bolney Drive, by smashing through glass panels on the back doors and reaching through the gap to release the lock.

An iPad, cash, wallet and jewellery valued at a three-figure sum were reported taken from Dandies Drive on December 29 at about 10.45am when the occupant returned home to find the back door broken. Officers believe the burglars could have forced their way into the house any time from 3pm the previous day.

The second break-in happened at Bolney Drive and was reported at shortly after 5pm on December 29 while the occupants were away on holiday. Enquiries are continuing but it is not yet known what was taken.

DI Andy Harvey of Southend CID said: "It both these cases keys were left in back doors that both had glass panels. We would urge anyone with this type of back door to remove the keys to make it less easy for thieves to get in. Any way of keeping thieves at bay or delaying them could also lead to neighbours seeing or hearing them and calling police.”

Anyone with information about the burglaries should contact Southend CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 888111.