FRUSTRATED detectives are turning their hunt for an expert gang of jewel thieves closer to home.

Officers desperate to catch the raiders who are thought to have been at large since 1999 and have bagged thousands of pounds of jewels, say now they could even be looking for just one person - and they could be living within the community.

That's the latest theory for senior detectives heading up the investigation code-named Operation Effingham as they step up efforts to find thieves who have made leafy Chandler's Ford their prime target.

More than 120 homes in the upmarket suburb have been hit - the latest raid saw jewellery worth £20,000 stolen.

In each case the raiders target homes in the late afternoon and have managed to bypass sophisticated alarms and security systems.

And it's only the most valuable jewellery that takes their interest.

Det Insp Colin Mathews, head of CID for West Hants Division, said: "Obviously it is a concern to the people of Eastleigh and Chandler's Ford and us as well."

But he said: "The public must rest assured that we are doing everything we can to both detect and also disrupt the activities of this person or group of people."

As soon as reports came in of the latest burglary on a house in Hocombe Road, police patrols were stepped up and through the media, residents were put on full alert.

Householders living in the triangle between Hiltingbury Road, Hursley Road and Winchester Road seem to be the prime target.

Det Insp Mathews said: "Clearly whoever is committing these burglaries is extremely careful and quite good at what they do or extremely lucky. But it is very frustrating for us.

"I do not want people to think these burglaries are occurring all the time. They are happening in little pockets, one for a month or six weeks, then we get nothing for six months."

Chandler's Ford is not far from the M3 - a perfect getaway for criminals needing to make a quick exit with their glittering haul.

But it is also highly probable, say the detectives, that the gem raider or raiders could be living in the heart of the community, particularly because they have picked on just one small area.

Det Sgt Darren Rawlings, of the West Hampshire Burglary Investigation Team, added: "It is possible that it might be someone who is living in the area and knows the area."

He added that it was disappointing that residents were still not taking basic security precautions to protect their property.

Now the officers say they are hoping for a major breakthrough in the inquiry.

So far no witnesses have come forward who claim to have seen people acting suspiciously.

John Caldwell, Eastleigh borough councillor for Chandler's Ford, is urging people to be on alert, especially in the run-up to Christmas.

He said: "It's the pre-Christmas time burglaries that are raising the most concern and we are asking residents to follow the advice of the police and take the necessary precautions."

Anyone with information should contact Eastleigh police station on 0845 045 4545 or Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.