'PEOPLE living in the Dandy Row area of Darwen are being urged by the police to lock up their property after a series of shed and garage break-ins during the last two weeks.

The latest incident happened between Saturday, December 6, and Tuesday 9, in Dandy Row.

Thieves broke into a shed behind a house and stole £1,000 worth of property including three electric scooters, three mountain bikes, a Flymo, strimmer and hedge cutter.

DS Chris Counsell, from Darwen CID, said: "We want people to be aware that there have been a number of these burglaries and they should ensure that their sheds and garages are properly locked before they leave valuables in them.

"We believe the latest burglary is connected to previous incidents in the area, which we know have happened during school hours, so people should be particularly vigilant at those times and watch out for any suspicious activity."

Crime prevention officers will be visiting the area to advise homeowners on the options available to them regarding security measures and advising them to get any items left in sheds and garages property marked so that it can be linked back to them if stolen.

Anyone with information should contact Darwen CID on 01254 353843.