BURGLARS raided three homes in Stanway in one night.

On Thursday evening they smashed their way into homes stealing jewellery and other valuables.

French doors were smashed at one property in Marram Close.

They searched the house and stole £3,000 worth of possessions including gold and silver necklaces, a gold ladies’ Gucci watch with black strap, earrings, and a ring. Two pairs of binoculars, made by Viking and Hawke, were also taken along with a ukulele and a Medion 7 inch tablet computer, a blue Dell laptop and a Samsung mobile phone.

The other homes broken into were in Searle Way, in Eight Ash Green, and Rectory Road, in Copford.

In both cases thieves smashed windows in doors to the rear of the houses to get in before cash and jewellery were taken.

Det Sgt Pete Coley said: "The similarities between these three burglaries, their proximity to each other and the way they were carried out leads me to believe that they were all committed by the same thief or thieves.

"If anyone saw any suspicious behaviour in any of these neighbourhoods or other nearby residential areas on the evening in question I would very much like to hear from them.

"I would also ask members of the public to take a timely review of their home security."

Anyone with information on the burglaries can contact DS Coley at Colchester Police Station on 101 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.