POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a series of burglaries in and around Alton which resulted in the loss of more than £47,000 to homeowners.

Four of the burglaries occurred last Wednesday, and with two more on Monday officers are investigating whether they are linked.

In all six instances the front door of the properties was forced in some way while the homeowner was out and cash, jewellery and IT equipment was taken.

The largest haul took place sometime between 10.30am and 1.55pm on February 11 when around £40,000 of jewellery was taken from a home on Station Road in Bentley, including a Cartier wedding ring and a Gucci watch.

In Alton, burglars forced their way into a home on Chacrafts between 8am and 5.45pm on the same day and made off with £40 in cash and some jewellery.

A similar incident occurred between 7.45am and 4.30pm when cash was taken from the bedroom of a property on Southview Rise in Alton.

And in Holybourne, thieves broke into a home at Thornton End and stole more than £6,000 of jewellery. This incident occurred sometime between 4pm and 5.10pm and the haul included a platinum eternity ring and a white gold necklace.

Five days later, two burglaries were reported on Winchester Road in Alton. The incidents took place sometime between 10.30 am and noon when both homes had their doors forced and items such as a Sony VAIO laptop, Apple iPads and a Ninendo Wii were taken.

Anyone with information concerning any of the burglaries should call DS James Massey on 101, quoting 44160070400, or call Crimestopper anonymously on 0800 555111.