HOMEOWNERS are being urged to beef up their security after reports burglars have been rifling through houses for car keys- before driving off in the vehicles.

Police have received numerous reports of burglaries in Basildon, Billericay and Wickford, where thieves have snatched handbags containing keys in a bid to steal cars from the driveway.

Officers are now asking residents to keep car keys in a more secure location, keep handbags out of sight and install motion sensored lights in ground floor rooms.

Two cars were stolen from a driveway in Ashfields, Pitsea between 11.30am on Monday, April 25 and 5am the following morning.

Thieves jemmied open the front door before grabbing items from the living room, including a handbag, a wallet and two sets of car keys.

A black Ssangyong AF17, worth £5,000 and with a RX05 TNU registration plate, and a £1,000 black Vauxhall Astra estate car, with a BF05 YNZ registration plate, were stolen.

Between 1am and 7am on Saturday, April 30, burglars forced open the front door of a home in Belmont Avenue, Wickford, and took car keys from inside.

When the homeowners woke up, they noticed their titanium Ford Focus C-Max, with a EY62 VTC plate, had been stolen.

Burglars also targeted a home between 1pm and 5pm on Perry Street, Billericay, while the homeowners were out for the afternoon.

During the burglary, they stole a brand new blue BMW, on a EO16 HSV registration plate.

No cars have been recovered.

PC Marek Jaworksi, from Basildon Police, said: "In all the burglaries we are seeing where cars have been stolen, the keys have been too easy to find by the burglars.

"These burglars are going in and removing a handbag with the keys inside.

"We would advise to make it as difficult as possible for thieves to steal the car. Keep the keys in a different place and it would be a good idea to install motion-sensored lights to scare off burglars."

Any witnesses or anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.