Police are asking homeowners to take extra care in the hot weather to ensure their home is secure, even when they are nearby.

The advice comes following a recent increase in burglaries where offenders have walked through unlocked doors or reached through open windows to steal handbags, laptops and other valuables.

DS Martyn Stephens of Warwickshire Police said "Opportunist thieves are always on the look out for easy pickings. They may go along a whole street of houses trying all the doors and windows to see if they have been left open, stealing items as they go.

"If you see someone in your back garden or your neighbours who shouldn't be there or acting suspiciously in your road, please contact officers immediately with a description of the offenders."

We believe two opportunist burglars were in the Leamington area over the weekend.

LEAMINGTON At 4.55am on Saturday morning 30 May, a female occupant of a home in Binswood Avenue, Leamington was woken by a noise and came downstairs to see a young male trying to climb in a window. She shouted at him and he ran off leaving a bicycle on the woman's driveway. He is described as having shaved, cropped, light brown hair and wearing an orange day-glow top on.

Police then received a further call from another resident in the Avenue reporting that at approximately 4.50am he was disturbed by a noise outside and looked out to see a man trying to climb over his garden wall. The male rode off on a dark coloured bmx bike. He is described as a white male, approximately 19 years old wearing an orange day glow top and jeans.

At just after 5.05am a man in Lillington Road, Leamington reported hearing a noise at the back of his house and saw two males. One male was wearing a bright orange top and the other was wearing a green polo t-shirt type top. The men had picked up an old hedgecutter and a bike and were just throwing them over the garden wall when the occupant shouted at them. The two men then ran off in opposite directions leaving the occupant to recover the stolen items.

Officers are investigating all three incidents and appealing for any witnesses who can help them identify the suspicious males.

WARWICK Overnight between Saturday 30 May and 09.40am on Sunday 31 May opportunist burglars have entered someone's home in Cliffe Way, Warwick through an insecure door from the back garden and stolen a Hewlett Packard laptop, a Panasonic digital camera, a Mitac Mio Sat Nav and Motorolla mobile phone as well as a small amount of cash. The offenders let themselves out via a back door, leaving it open until the burglary was discovered by occupants in the morning.

A handbag was also stolen but was found discarded at the end of the garden with keys and credit cards still inside.

RUGBY Between 9.50pm on Monday 1 June and 1.45am on Tuesday 2 June two cars were stolen following a burglary, off a drive in Harris Drive, Rugby. The X registration silver Renault Clio and 07 plate blue Metallic Skoda were stolen after burglars are believed to have broken in to the property via an open window or door. As well as the cars, a purse, wallet and mobile phone were stolen.

NUNEATON Between 1pm and 8.15pm on Sunday 31 May a woman called the police after noticing that several items had been moved in her home. She then discovered a silver coloured digital camera still boxed with the cables included and a brand new DSI Nintendo including Imagine Vets game had been stolen. The burglars are believed to have entered the property either via a small open fan-light window upstairs or through an insecure rear entrance door.

The occupant of a property in Meadowside, Nuneaton called police at quarter to midnight on Friday 29 May after hearing a noise downstairs. On investigating, she discovered that her handbag containing items including a mobile phone and credit cards had been stolen. The burglars are thought to have entered the home through an insecure front door.

DS Stephens said "Please take a few minutes when you settle down for the evening or when you go out to ensure your doors, windows and side gate is locked.

Even if you are in the lounge watching TV ensure your doors and any easily accessible windows are locked as the TV can hide the sound of someone entering your home to steal your valuables.

If you are in the garden please ensure your front door and windows are shut.

Keep valuables away from open windows especially windows that are visible from the street. Thieves may spot these during the day and will come back later and reach through to steal your laptop for example.

Try and make this part of your daily routine.

If you see someone acting suspiciously, get a good description and call us straight away so we can investigate. Dial 999 if you believe a burglary may be in progress or the non emergency number 01926 415000 if you are reporting an incident at a later time.