THIEVES used a garden ornament to smash into a house and steal valuables worth £3,000.

They smashed a set of double-glazed doors of a home in Spring Lane, Eight Ash Green, and stole a phone, digital camera and jewellery worth more than £3,000.

Detectives believe the burglary, which took place on Saturday between 11am and 7pm, may be linked to another break-in on nearby Searle Way on Friday.

Between 8am and 3pm, burglars used an ornament to smash a kitchen window and take jewellery and two games consoles worth £1,500.

Investigating Officer, Dc Andrea Ford, said: "As well as obviously looking for witnesses to the actual break-in, we’re also keen to identify four potential witnesses who could prove key in helping us identify the burglars.

"They were seen on the previous evening (Friday) at approximately 9:30pm and end of this woman’s driveway going onto Spring Lane.

"They were aged in their mid-late teens, with three being black and one white.

"A few minutes later, they had moved onto another property’s driveway and then later completely disappeared.

"We would like them to contact us so that we can eliminate them from our enquiries and glean any information from them on the possible suspects.”

 

Officers examined the scene and carried out house-to-house enquiries.

Anyone with information should contact detectives at Colchester police station on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.