POLICE believe the burglar dubbed the Shirley Creeper may have struck again, this time targeting a home while the occupants were entertaining friends.

It is thought the intruder, who strikes at night, sneaked into a home in Radway Road, taking a handbag containing credit cards, cash, a mobile phone and car keys.

Police believe the creeper then returned to the property hours after the break-in to steal the family car using the keys found in the handbag. The car is still missing.

A spokesman for Southampton's dedicated burglary unit said it was likely the burglar had returned to the property early on Saturday, adding: "From the statement it appears the visitors to the house left at around 12.30am and at that time the car was still there, but when the occupants woke up they discovered the car was missing."

Detectives have been on the trail of the creeper, so called as the burglar strikes while the occupants are at home, since the beginning of August when crimes fitting the pattern were first reported.

Since then about 20 burglaries are thought to have been committed by the same thief.

Meanwhile, police in Southampton have swooped on burglary suspects across the city as part of a two-week crackdown on house break-ins.

Seven people have been arrested after just one week of the operation run by the recently-formed Burglary Investigation Unit (BIU) as part of Operation Boa.

The crackdown comes a week after the Daily Echo revealed how burglaries in Southampton had rocketed by 70 per cent compared with last year's figures.

Detectives hope this latest operation will curb the rising number of burglaries being committed, a trend that was blamed on the easy availability of drugs in the city, combined with a new method of recording crime.

Of those arrested, three were charged with offences including burglary and perverting the course of justice and four suspects were released on police bail while officers awaited the result of further inquiries.

Four more burglary suspects are expected to be arrested after they were identified as the result of extensive inquiries.

Det Insp Richard Pearson, who leads the unit, said: "Over the next few weeks we are concentrating on locating and arresting outstanding suspects for burglary offences, and Operation Boa will continue to focus resources into capturing burglars as part of its key remit throughout the year."

Operation Boa was launched earlier this year after almost £300,000 of Home Office funding was granted to set up a dedicated burglary unit.

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Calls can also be taken at the BIU on 023 8059 9997.