SEVEN homes evacuated after the tower block blaze that killed two Hampshire firemen have been targeted by burglars.

Cash, jewellery, games consoles and electrical items are among the things stolen from the flats in Shirley Towers.

Horrified residents who returned home after two weeks in a hotel were disgusted to discover they had fallen victim to opportunist criminals.

The burglars have been labelled “vermin” for taking advantage of the aftermath of such a tragic incident.

People living on the 11th floor, where all the reported burglaries took place, were forced out of their flats for more than a fortnight by last month’s blaze, which claimed the lives of firefighters Alan Bannon and James Shears.

Cancer patient David Cooper was the first to report property missing from his home.

As revealed in the Daily Echo, the 56-year-old grandfather, who is undergoing chemotherapy as he battles liver cancer, had a PlayStation 3 and games stolen.

He is disgusted criminals have targeted the flats, which were evacuated while Southampton City Council staff carried out repairs and cleaned the smoke-damaged corridor.

Mr Cooper said: “It’s a sick thing to do. The community has been pulling together, but they’re vermin, they really are – there are just some things you don’t do.

“The police have been brilliant in keeping me informed, and they even told me the Chief Constable has taken a personal interest in what’s happened.”

Occupants of 29 of the 46 evacuated flats have now returned home, after repair work, which included replacing doors and checking electrics.

The council says 12 of the remaining flats will take between six and 12 weeks to bring back up to living standards because of the extensive smoke and water damage, while three will remain out of bounds for up to six months.

Police are keen to hear from anyone with any information about the burglaries, which are reported to have taken place between April 7 and 27.

Call PC Lance Plummer at Shirley police station on the non-emergency 101 number, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.