AN “ORGANISED gang” of burglars is being hunted by police after they struck 14 times in Cheriton and Kings Worthy – in just four hours.

Thieves took golf clubs worth £2,500, gardening equipment and power tools when they went on a thieving spree from sheds and garages.

Police investigating the series say the first 999 calls came in during the early hours of the morning in the village of Cheriton near Winchester – where a total of ten of the break-ins happened in the middle of the night.

Two men were seen attempting to break in to a garage on the B3046, which runs through the village, but fled when residents shouted at them.

However power tools and a lawnmower were taken from a garage on the main road, as were two high-value push bikes from another property.

Three fuel containers were also taken from a property in School Lane but were later found by a police dog brought in by officers to help search the area, having been discarded as the burglars fled.

A further six outbuildings – three in The Goodens and three on the B3046 – were also targeted, but nothing was taken.

Sgt Mark Lamper from Alresford police station said the calls came in from September 24-27, when people noticed items were missing, but it was thought the incidents occurred around the same time.

He added that on top of the Cheriton burglaries, properties in Kings Worthy were also targeted between September 20-27.

Two sets of golf clubs worth £2,500 were taken from properties in Hinton Fields and Campion Way, and two push bikes were stolen from Hinton Fields and one from Ilex Close.

Sgt Lamper said he believed “an organised gang” were behind the burglaries and urged people to be vigilant, secure their valuables and register anything of worth using the website immobilise.com.

He said: “We are increasing foot patrols, especially in the evenings.

“These people obviously were looking for specific stuff.

“They usually target one place and then move on and do it somewhere else.”

He said the force would work closely with the Neighbourhood Watch to keep residents informed.

Patricia Culpin, Neighbourhood Watch coordinator in Cheriton, said: “That’s staggering. I knew about one but I didn’t know about the others.

“If it’s a gang they will come through a village, but that is the most we have ever had.

“We have warned people to lock everything up.”

Anyone with information about the Cheriton break-ins, which are thought to have happened in the early hours of September 24, is asked to call Alresford police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.