POLICE this morning surrounded part of a residential area after a would-be burglar was disturbed during an attempted break-in.

A spotter helicopter using heat-seeking thermal imaging was deployed to help officers searching gardens of homes in the Inner Avenue, Southampton, after a resident reported their home had been targeted.

They swooped on back yards of properties in Methuen Street and Liverpool Street shortly after 12.30am, using high-power torches in their search.

A team of officers went door-to-door in the early morning, using upstairs windows to try to hunt for the suspect.

The spotter helicopter arrived on the scene at around 1.30am, circling above properties as the search continued.

It is not thought the raider was successful in their bid to break in to the home.