RESIDENTS in a Southampton neighbourhood have been warned to be extra vigilant after thieves struck three houses within days of each other.

The burglaries, which all happened on West End Road, Bitterne, could be linked.

Police have stepped up patrols around the neighbourhood to speak to residents to urge them to be on their guard.

Burglars have made off with vehicles, jewellery and cash after forcing their way into homes along the road.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen something suspicious on December 9 when a Mercedes was stolen from the driveway of a house.

The thieves had broken into the home and made off with a Dell laptop before picking up the keys to the vehicle, an E320 CDI Advantage model Mercedes between 6pm and 11.30pm.

In the early hours of the following morning a young couple awoke at around 1am to hear burglars smashing a window to gain entry into their house.

The damage set off a burglar alarm and the would-be thieves ran off empty handed.

Both incidents come days after a 12 year-old girl returned home from school to discover thieves ransacking her home.

The youngster heard people inside the property at around 4pm on Wednesday, December 5 and ran outside to call her father who alerted the police.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Nick Gray at the Burglary Unit on 023 8059 9997 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.