POLICE are upping the ante to try to catch a prolific gang of teenage tearaways who have so far burgled about 17 homes in Laindon.

The gang of thieves, thought to be teenagers living in the area, broke into five homes in the early hours of Monday morning by forcing open front doors with a screwdriver.

In one of the burglaries, the raiders stole a red Ford Fiesta, on a 64 plate, and a Volkswagen Caddy van from the driveway after swiping the vehicle keys.

Homes in Turner Close, Bostock Close, Mellow Purgess, Tyler Avenue and Beeston Courts were targeted.

The latest spate comes hot on the heels of a string of burglaries of 12 homes in Laindon during the night of Thursday, September 15.

Det Supt Kevin Baldwin believes the same people could be responsible and is compiling forensic evidence in a bid to catch them.

He said: “We are looking at the method the burglars entered the homes and linking them to the spate of burglaries we have had recently, where the cars were stolen.

“We are looking at forensic work and speaking to victims. We are building a case against a number of known individuals.

“They are starting to target more and more homes and cannot be allowed to continue.”

A covert operation, named Operation Caravaggio, has been launched to link known offenders, particularly the teenagers, to burglaries through forensics and CCTV evidence.

Det Sgt Richard Burgess, who leads the operation, said: “A lot of these crimes are clearly linked.

“I know who my core offenders are - they are a group of 12 to 17 year-olds who are stealing cars.

“I have no doubt we are looking at the right people and I am slowly building up evidence and we will come after them.”