THIEVES broke into six vehicles in the space of two nights in the Rochford district.

In a series of thefts police believe could be linked, crooks targeted three vans between 6pm on Sunday and 5am on Monday, before another two vans and a car were broken into between 6pm Monday and 7.30am Tuesday.

Three vans were targeted in Golden Cross Road.

The thieves stole lengths of copper piping from the roof of a Renault Kangoo van, then stole power tools and a tool bag worth a total of £2,500 after forcing the rear door lock on a white Fiat Ducato.

They also forced open the door of a white Peugeot van to get to power tools and plumbing tools worth £1,600.

A car stereo and an mp3 player were stolen after a white Ford Fiesta was broken into in Rutland Gardens.

Crooks also removed a compressor machine, worth £2,000, which was attached to the back of a white Iveco Daily van in Victoria Drive, Great Wakering.

And £1,600 worth of power tools were taken from a Ford Transit flat-bed van in Rectory Road, Rochford.

Alan Jones, spokesman for Essex Police, urged people to keep valuables out of sight.

He said: "Thieves will not hesitate to cause any amount of damage to a vehicle to get to the items left on display if they think are valuable."

Anyone with any information about these break-ins can call investigating officers at Rochford police police station on 0300 333 4444.