police are warning households in Devizes not to leave keys near their doors after raids on two homes.

Properties in the Broadleas and Hartmoor Road areas were targeted overnight on Sunday and Monday, with a purse containing cash and cards stolen from one house.

Insp Matthew Armstrong said: “It is clear the offenders have sought to get hold of keys to the doors, left in the locks or hung up close to the door on the inside, in order to gain access.

“Personal effects were taken from one property and at the second it would appear the offenders did not gain entry to the house.

“There is a reduction in the number of burglaries committed in the Devizes area and targeting premises in this way is unusual.

“Do not leave keys in locks or hang them near to the door. Keys need to be in a place where you can access them in an emergency, but far enough out of the reach of someone trying to get in.”