BURGLARS have been forcing their way into homes where people have not properly locked their doors.

They have been targeting Southend homes with UPVC doors which people are not locking properly with a key.

This was how they got into a house in Picasso Way, Shoebury, between 11pm on Saturday and 6.30am the following day.

A set of car keys were taken from the hallway and a mobile phone.

The crook then took the owner's dark blue Audi A2 which was parked outside. It was worth about £5000 and had the index LV04 NCU.

The same method was used to get into a house in Mayfield Avenue, Southend, between midnight and 2am on Sunday.

Car keys were taken from the hallway and the suspects then made off in a Black Ford Kuga car, which was stolen from outside. The car, with an estimated value of £18,000, had the index EN59 PNK. The vehicle also contained an estimated £1200 worth of goods, including a Mamas & Papas travel system, various clothes and shoes, a SatNav and a dog travel basket.

A similar burglary happened in the Fairway, Leigh, between 10.30am and 4.30pm on Wednesday, November 23.

The suspect has then pulled down the handle on the front door to release the lever locks. This just left the simple latch in the middle of the door which was jemmied open. Cash and jewellery worth about £660 was stolen from inside the house.

PC Reece Brent, of Southend police, said "These incidents highlight the need to ensure that all external doors are locked securely.

"With UPVC doors, this usually involves first pushing the handle up to deploy secondary bolts, before turning a key to lock them in place.

"The door is not locked and fully secure if it is just shut and the handle pushed up."

The burglaries are being investigated by PC Reece Brent and Det Con Paul Brown. Anyone with information about these offences is asked to contact them in the CID Target Team at Southend police station, by calling 101.