PEOPLE in Darwen are being urged to be more vigilant while in their homes after a spate of sneak-in burglaries.

Police have warned householders to keep their homes more secure to keep crime levels down.

Intruders have been sneaking into houses while the owners were in other rooms or in their gardens where they could not hear people coming into their house.

DC Dave Braithwaite said: "Thieves are getting into properties through unlocked doors while the occupants are inside. We are asking people to keep their doors locked at all times to prevent these burglaries occurring, even if they are only in another room. Leaving doors unlocked is like an open invitation to thieves."

The latest incident was at a house in Marsh Terrace where thieves walked through the unlocked front door and stole £100 in cash before escaping without the owners seeing them.