A SPATE of thefts is being linked to three men roaming Wokingham Borough in an Audi car.

Several houses have been broken into after the locks were snapped or smashed by the offenders.

Cash and jewellery was stolen from a house on Beech Lane, Earley, on January 14 at around 3.50pm.

A conservatory window has been damaged and the lock on the door forced open on The Delph between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on January 12.

The upstairs area of the house was searched and Asian gold and other jewellery was stolen.

During the afternoon of January 16, two men were seen trying to break into a house on Headley Road, Woodley.

When they realised someone was in the house, they ran away before getting into a grey Audi RS3, which was waiting in the doctors surgery car park.

Police have appealed for residents to be on the lookout for a vehicle matching this description.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "There have been at least 10 burglaries whereby locks have been targeted by either snapping or smashing the lock case to remove the lock, mainly on rear doors.

"Houses have been searched, including going into the loft, removing bath panels and also ripping out security lights.

"These burglaries are happening late afternoon to early evening and they have been across the area, Wokingham, Winnersh, Earley and Woodley.

"We would ask you to check your CCTV and see if anything could help police with their enquiries.

"We believe a grey Audi RS3 is being used, possibly with three men in it. If you see a parked up grey Audi RS3 please ring the police.

"We would rather get telephone calls to check out where this car may be than continue with burglaries around the area."

If you see or hear anything suspicious ring the police on 101.