THIEVES have stolen ten garden gates from Southampton homes in just three days.

It is thought they have targeted the metal gates to sell as scrap.

Now, police have urged people to hide away wheelie bins which thieves could use to transport their haul, buy gates with reverse hinges, security mark metal gates or have wooden gates instead.

It comes just weeks after disabled grandma Shirley Doyle’s wheelchair was stolen by metal thieves in Rownhams Road, Shirley, as metal thefts across the county are rising.

Gates were taken from the Shirley and Freemantle areas of Southampton on Wednesday, with homes in Seymour Road, Wilton Road, Darlington Gardens, Northam Avenue and Testwood Road also being targeted.

PC Jordan Williams, said: “The rise in metal thefts is due to the high prices being offered for scrap metal currently and we are working closely with scrap metal merchants to make sure they do the appropriate checks and don’t buy stolen metal.

“I would advise anyone who has gates or any other valuables outside their homes to try and secure them as best as possible to try and make them difficult to remove and prevent them from being targeted by thieves.”