RESIDENTS are being urged to report suspicious callers to police after a recent spate of burglaries.

There have been 93 burglaries in the last two weeks in Southend, Rochford and Castle Point. This is 31 per cent more than the 71 reported the previous fortnight.

Information obtained by police during house to house enquiries following recent burglaries suggests that some burglars are scoping an area before targeting individual homes, by first knocking on front doors.

If the door is answered they make a casual excuse for knocking – such as naming someone they were looking for. When they are then told they have the wrong house, they make their apologies and leave.

Sgt Rob Kirby, from the CID Target Team at Southend police station, said: "A mistaken caller may seem completely innocuous to you at the time, but if this happens to you and you turn them away, you may be diverting a potential burglar.

"If you receive a call at your front door by someone who gives an excuse as soon as you answer, please ring police immediately after they leave. This way, we can respond as soon as possible and try to locate the mistaken caller to stop and search them. We would much rather be called out and find that all is in order than to miss an opportunity to catch a burglar.”

Crime prevention advice is available on the Essex Police website www.essexpolice.co.uk or by calling 101.