Eastleigh police are urging Chandler's Ford residents to stay vigilant and to keep taking "stringent" security measures after two homes were burgled in overnight raids.

In one break-in, thieves ransacked rooms and left drawers on beds of a home in Thornbury Wood, ignoring large, high-value items. A second home in the same street was also targeted and cupboards, drawers and wardrobes were searched.

Police say the burglars left one home empty-handed and escaped with just a small amount of jewellery from the other.

The burglaries bore similarities to a series of more than 120 burglaries in the Chandler's Ford area carried out by expert gem thieves since 1999, which have seen high-quality jewellery worth thousands of pounds being stolen.

But an Eastleigh police spokesman said: "We do not believe these two incidents are linked to the previous series of raids at this stage."

However, police are urging residents not to relax and to make sure that easily transportable items such as jewellery or cash are not left in homes unless secured safely - preferably in a hidden or unmovable safe.

The spokesman commented: "Burglary figures have been falling month on month in west Hampshire and these two latest break-ins are a disappointment

to the burglary investigation team."

He added that, with detections running well above government targets, the work the team was doing looked set to provide them with a record-breaking performance this year.

Meanwhile, detectives in the team are asking anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the Thornbury Wood area last Tuesday night to contact them.

They are particularly keen for the driver of a white Transit-type van, seen in the area on Tuesday afternoon, to come forward so that he can be eliminated from inquiries.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Eastleigh CID on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.