CRUEL burglars raided the homes of a mother and daughter on the same night.

Carol Mclaughlin and daughter Charlotte Wilkins, who live next door to each other in Brain Road, Witham, were targeted early on Sunday.

After being woken by her dog Sasha barking at 3am, Mrs Mclaughlin went downstairs and heard the front door slam. She rushed to her daughter's house to discover she had had her purse and iPad stolen.

It is believed four houses on Brain Road had been targeted.

Mrs Mclaughlin, 56, said: “When I was woken it was about 3.15am and in a matter of 10 minutes they must have tried most of the street.

“They were so quiet when they came in, we didn’t hear anything until the dog went ballistic. The fact there were so many burglaries in one night is horrendous.”

Charlotte was about to get milk for her daughter Poppy, two, when she noticed the porch door was open. Her other daughter Megan, 4, was also sleeping upstairs.

Mrs Wilkins, 32, said: “It was just after 3am, my porch door was wide open and all my coats were thrown on the floor. I checked the bag in my porch and my purse was gone. They also took cigarettes off the counter and an iPad.

“Two of my bags were under the tree outside, I had £60 cash in my purse as well which is typical as I never carry money around.”

Police had told the family the burglars had used a flat end screwdriver to pop the door open.

Mrs Wilkins described the men as white, one had a strange walk and one was wearing a grey t-shirt.

The incidents were not isolated, as they followed six burglaries the previous Sunday.

Three homes in Humber Road and one each in Cam Way, Ness Walk and Dart Close were targeted overnight.

Dennis Byam, from Dart Close, woke to find a handbag and games controller in his front garden, belonging to a neighbour.

Mr Byam, 69, said: “My wife goes to the neighbourhood watch meetings but we don’t see much of the police really. It’s just getting worse.

“We have been here 40 years and it has never been this bad. I spoke to the girl who the bag belonged to and she didn’t know she had been burgled.

“She couldn’t believe it, we shouldn’t have to put up with it.”

David Storer, 28, from Humber Road, said: “Hearing that number of burglaries put people on edge so it’s good to know it is being looked at, we have only been here a month and my wife is heavily pregnant.

Brian Cook from Dart Close said police had given advice on keeping their doors locked.

He said: “Police said the burglars are putting something through the letterbox to unlock the latch and are taking small electricals like phones or iPads.

“It all seems like very organised crime.”

Call 101 with information.