THIEVES have targeted Vale homes as a spate of burglaries now totalling 58 in just over three months continues.

The wave of thefts in the Evesham and Pershore areas began in November but appears to have worsened as the number of burglaries rose from 35 to 58 in just three weeks.

The latest thefts saw nine caravans targeted across the south Worcestershire area.

A warning was issued to owners after the caravans were either stolen or burgled from villages in the Vale and the Malvern area.

l Two caravans stolen from Great Comberton Golf Club, in Pershore Road - a Bailey Olympus 4-berth valued at £15,000 between Sunday, January 5, and Wednesday, January 8, and a Cristal Moorea 530 worth £9,000, stolen between Wednesday, January 8, and Thursday, January 9. Thieves caused £100 of damage to the lock of a third caravan at the club between Monday, January 6, and Thursday, January 9, and £400 of damage to a plastic storage panel on a fourth caravan between Sunday, September 1, and Tuesday, January 7.

l Fridge taken from a Swift Challenger 530SE in Manor Road, Eckington, near Pershore, on Wednesday, January 15.

l Two caravans, and items including an awning, caravan cover, Calor gas cylinders and TV taken from Riverside Caravan Park in Little Clevelode, Malvern, between Wednesday, January 15, and Thursday, January 16.

l Two caravans stolen from a storage facility in Eckington, Pershore, between Wednesday, February 5, and Thursday, February 6.

Inspector Janet Heritage said: "We recommend owners fit wheel locks, hitch locks, tracking devises and any other available security equipment to their caravans to deter thieves and help us track them down. One of the stolen caravans was successfully traced because it was fitted with a tracking device."

But there was some light at the end of the tunnel when detectives investigating the crime wave carried out their own raid on a home in Stoulton, near Drakes Broughton last Wednesday (February 12)

The uncovered an "Aladdin's cave" as they found dozens of goods, believe to have been stolen.

The discovery follows a spate or thefts in homes, sheds and garages in the Pershore and Evesham area.

During the find officers found a large quantity of push bikes, power tools and machinery.

Detective Inspector Stuart Murphy, whose team uncovered the items, said: "The Proactive Team has been investigating a spate of burglaries to sheds and garages in the Pershore and Evesham areas over the past six to eight weeks.

"The warrant was part of that enquiry and it has uncovered something of an Aladdin’s Cave today. We will now be looking to identify the goods and link them to the burglaries that have occurred."

Anyone with information should contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on crimestoppers-uk.org.