A STRING of burglaries at a chain of newsagents in Basildon has come to an end after officers stepped up covert patrols.

Thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes were stolen from the convenience stores following five raids in just a week.

Burglars broke into Martins newsagents, in Felmores End, Pitsea, overnight on Tuesday, April 26 and in the early hours of Tuesday, May 3.

A second convenience store, McColls, at the Triangle shopping precinct in Langdon Hills, was raided three times in three days.

Workers arrived at the store every morning for three days to find that windows have been smashed, doors forced open and hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes and cash missing.

In each burglary, the stores were broken into with a crowbar and large hauls of cigarette packets were taken.

Following the spate of burglaries, officers from the Basildon community policing team focused their efforts on patrolling the areas late at night and offering crime prevention advice.

Burglars have not struck at the premises for more than three weeks.

PC Marek Jaworski, from Basildon police, said: "At the time of the burglaries, we visited the staff in the stores to suggest how they could improve security to stop them from being targeted.

"It looks like they have been working with their head offices to improve things.

"We have carried out plain-clothed patrols and have used specialist units such as the dog unit to help us out at night.

"When we have a spate of break-ins such as this in certain places, they become an area of focus as part of our patrol plan.

"Although the amount of burglaries seem to have tailed off, it's something that we will continue to focus on for as long as necessary.

"These things come and go in waves so we are going to keep on top of it."

Mr Jaworski said he was still keen on tracing the haul of cigarettes, which they believe are being sold on the streets illegally.

Officers believe the same people are responsible for each burglary. No arrests have yet been made.

Anyone with information about who could be responsible for the break-ins can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.