CROOKS have been targeting homes in Evesham and Pershore in a spate of burglaries since the New Year.

As well as cash, jewellery and electrical equipment worth thousands of pounds, thieves have also made off with a haul of medals and other items of “great sentimental value”.

Police are hunting the culprits and urging people to take all measures possible to keep their possessions safe.

Almost £6,500 of electrical equipment including two large Pioneer flat-screen TVs, an Iphone and a Macbook computer were taken when thieves smashed a rear window at a house in South Littleton between 1pm on Monday, December 30, and 9.30pm on Friday, January 3.

Burglars also broke into a house in Evendine Road, Evesham, between 10am and 3pm on Friday, January 3, by smashing a window in the conservatory door at the back of the property.

About £1,000 in cash was taken along with a British Empire medal and a ROSPA clip on bronze driving award ribbon with about 50 further ceremonial ribbon bars.

Jewellery – including diamond rings, watches and gold bracelets – worth more than £5,000 was also taken.

Sometime between 4pm on Saturday, January 4, and 10am on Thursday, January 9, burglars forced a window at a home in Three Cocks Lane, Offenham, near Evesham, making off with about £700 of electrical items.

Then, between 7pm and 9pm on Wednesday, January 8, an ‘untidy search’ was made of a shared house in Battleton Road, Evesham, and a diamond engagement ring, two Sony Playstation 3 consoles and about £140 in cash was taken.

Further break-ins took place in Pershore Road, Evesham, and Ongrils Close, Pershore, on Friday, January 3, but nothing was taken.

And a home in Washington Road, Wickhamford, near Evesham, had a rear patio door smashed during a break-in overnight on Wednesday, January 8, but police do not yet know if anything was taken.

Worcester Proactive CID is investigating the spate of burglaries and asking anyone with information to call them on 101 quoting incident number 136s/0901154.

Detective constable Ed Shotton said: “We are keen to hear from anyone with information about any of these burglaries and the whereabouts of the stolen items. Some of them may not have a high monetary value but are of great sentimental value to the owners.