A SPATE of burglaries in Colchester has sparked a warning for people to step up their home security.

Police say Tiptree and the Castle Park area of Colchester saw a rise in break-ins last month.

Insp Barry Atkinson, of Colchester police, said: "I would urge people to ensure their valuables are store securely, perhaps in a safe, and also that they have written down the serial numbers of any electrical good to help us reunite belongings with their owners should they be stolen.”