Police are warning residents in Henley to be extra vigilant and security conscious following an increase in house burglaries over the winter period.

Police officers from the area, including members of the neighbourhood teams, Roads Policing department, dog units and mounted police are carrying out high visibility patrols for the remainder of January and during February, in the town’s burglary hotspots and will be working alongside specialist teams carrying out covert operations.

In addition to this the Henley neighbourhood team is distributing information, security advice and property marking kits to residents in the areas being targeted by the burglars.

Crime reduction advisor, Julia Wheeler, said: “We have had a dramatic increase in burglaries in the area which has been worse than predicted and we will are determined to stamp it out.

“In December there were three times the number of house burglaries in Henley compared to an average month and since January the trend has continued. There have also been a small number of similar burglaries in Shiplake.”

The burglars are happening mainly during the daytime between Mondays and Fridays, although some offences are taking place overnight.

"Thieves are mainly targeting valuable portable electrical items, especially flat screen televisions and laptops, but jewellery and car keys are also being stolen.

She added: “This increase is worrying and some residents were left distressed over the Christmas period when they found all their Christmas presents had been stolen."