A SOUTHAMPTON man chased after thieves who broke into his family home in the middle of the night.

The 50-year-old man chased three men out of his home in Leaside Way, Swaythling and into the neighbourhood.

A younger member of the family joined the man in the chase but after ten minutes they lost sight of the burglars in the Daisy Dip area of the city.

Three male family members were asleep in the house when they were woken at 1.50am after they heard tables and chairs being knocked over in the next room.

When they went to see what was happening they were confronted by three males, in black clothing, ransacking their home. The chase began but the thieves managed to get away with a red radio/CD player and a jacket that had a wallet inside. Police are now appealing for anybody with any information about the burglary or the chase to contact the Burglary Unit.

However they have warned that members of the public should always consider their personal safety before chasing after criminals. A spokesman said: "Personal safety is obviously of the utmost importance and we would advise anybody to take care and not put themselves in a situation where they could find themselves in danger."