A number of burglaries and vehicle thefts have rocked a village in the last week.

Burglars have targeted homes and cars in Shenley as well as in Radlett.

Cars have been taken from driveways while vans have been broken into and tools stolen.

Between 1.30am and 6.30am on May 18, keys were stolen from a house in North Avenue, Shenley, and a black BMW convertible was taken from the driveway.

The incident is being linked by police to another car theft which happened on the same night between 12.30am and 7am, also in North Avenue. This time, a black Audi A1 was stolen. Two laptops were also taken from the house.

On Tuesday, a white Ford Transit van was broken into in Cockle Way between 2am and 12.50pm. A spirit level was taken from the van but it was then left on the ground nearby.

Tools were stolen from another van in Cockle Way between 10.30pm on Monday and 6.30am the following morning.

Between 6.30pm on Monday and 7.20am on Tuesday, a van was broken into in Halliday Close and tools were stolen.

Between 9pm on Monday and 7.30am the following morning, a chainsaw and a petrol hedge cutter were stolen from a van in Scrubbitts Square in Radlett.

The incidents in Cockle Way, Halliday Close, and Scrubbitts Square are all being linked.

On Monday, between 8am and 2.30pm, a back door was smashed at a house in Harris Lane, Shenley. It is not known at this stage if anything was stolen.

Hertsmere Chief Inspector Steve O'Keeffe has said that more police will be on the streets in the area as well as plain clothed officers.

He said: “I understand that these recent offences in a usually very low crime area such as Shenley will have caused concern among the local community.

“I would like to reassure you that extensive enquiries, including work with neighbouring police forces, are on-going to locate the offenders responsible.

“While this work is on-going patrols have been increased in the area, which includes both uniformed high visibility Safer Neighbourhood patrols, plain clothed officers and our Scorpion teams who are tasked with targeting acquisitive crime such as burglary."

Police are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward. Call 101 quoting the relevant crime reference number listed below.

J1/18/2206 - BMW stolen in North Avenue on May 18

J1/18/2208 - Audi stolen in North Avenue on May 18

J1/18/2288 - Ford Transit break-in in Cockle Way on May 22

J1/18/2281 - Tools stolen in Cockle Way on May 21/22

J1/18/2284 - Break-in in Scrubbitts Square on May 21/22 

J1/18/2282 - Van break-in in Halliday Close on May 21/22

J1/18/2279 - Harris Lane break-in on May 21