POLICE are warning residents not to leave their car keys lying round at night after a spate of burglaries.

Thieves have stolen thousands of pounds of vehicles from houses across Basildon in the past week.

Officers are urging people to be vigilant and to not leave their car keys by the front door or in their coat pockets when they go to bed.

Bizarrely, a number of the break-ins have seen crooks dump the stolen car just yards from the victim’s home.

It is not known if this was because the cars were out of fuel or the crooks did not know how to drive them.

Sgt Angie Torrance, from Basildon police station, said: “A number of these break-ins have involved front and patio doors being forced open. We advise people to ensure they properly lock their doors at night and to consider fitting a door chain and bolt.

“While high-value cars are always going to be a target for criminals, we have found it is not solely these vehicles which have been stolen.

“All keys should always be hidden away at night.

“If members of the public see anything suspicious in their neighbourhood, if they see anyone abandoning a vehicle or acting suspiciously in a vehicle at night, I urge them to contact the police immediately.”

The first burglary happened between 3.30am and 8am on February 20, when thieves broke in to a house in Glenmere, Vange, by forcing open the front door.

They stole the keys to a 2001 Jaguar X-Type, worth £4,000, then drove the car off the drive.

The victim woke up to find his home had been burgled.

When he went downstairs, he saw the crooks had dumped his car at the bottom of the road.

The next break-in happened in Collingwood Road, Basildon, between 8.45pm on February 19 and 7.30am on February 20.

Burglars again got in by forcing the front door.

They stole the keys to a 2013 Renault Clio, worth £11,000, and drove the car away.

The car has not been recovered.

Thieves broke into a house in Dunton Road, Little Burstead, between 11pm on February 23 and 4.30am on February 24 and stole bank cards and keys to a 2013 Fiat 500.

The car was found abandoned in Holst Avenue, Laindon, on February 24.

A 2001 silver Audi TT was stolen in a burglary at a house in Tilney Turn, Basildon, between 6am and 1.40pm on February 24.

A 2012 white Nissan Juke was stolen from a house in Larch Close, Laindon, between 11.30am on February 22 and 6am on February 23.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.