A SPATE of burglaries in Purton and North Wiltshire villages has prompted police to warn householders to take home security precautions.

Burglars smashed a window to get into a house in Chestnut Springs, Lydiard Millicent and stole jewellery between 3pm and 6pm on Saturday. The same method was used to break into a property in Purton Stoke and a home in Pear Tree Close, Purton on the same day.

Jewellery was taken when thieves forced entry to a house in Charlton near Malmesbury between 7.30am and 6pm on Friday and valuables and cash were stolen from a home in The Street, Brinkworth on January 19.

A house on The Common, Minety was targeted between 1.15pm and 2.15pm on Friday and a window was smashed, but nothing is believed to have been stolen.

Wiltshire Police are urging householders to ensure doors are locked, not to leave hidden keys and to register serial numbers from electrical items at immobilise.com. They should also trim back high hedges to no higher than one metre and consider installing burglar alarms.

Police also want them to report any suspicious activity and take a note of any suspect people and their vehicle registrations.