The advice comes after a rise in the number of burglaries in Tring and thefts from gardens the Tring and Berkhamsted area.

Burglars forced their way through the French doors of a house in Meadow Close, Tring on Friday, November 13, and on the same evening it is believed that three offenders were involved in forcing their way in through the front door of an elderly resident's house in Friars Walk before stealing cash.

A Herts Police investigator Julie Fewings said: "I would also strongly advise residents as a crime prevention measure to not store large amounts of cash in their houses. Keep it somewhere safe like a bank."

Neighbourhood Watch liaison officer Andy Reynolds said: "The offenders seem to work during the evening hours and frequently target elderly victims.

"Friday evenings seem to be the most popular times.

"It would appear that the offenders are not local and probably drive around the area trying to identify elderly or vulnerable resident's homes by their appearance.

"At this time there are no identified suspects."

He asked residents to be vigilant and to report the registration numbers of any suspicious vehicles to the police by telephone on 999.

Two men and one woman in the Berkhamsted area were arrested as they travelled into Hemel Hempstead in a white Mercedes van.

The van was loaded with metal items, including a lawnmower, a push chair and garden ornaments, believed to have been stolen from people's gardens.

Police are asking people in Berkhamsted and Tring to check their gardens to see if anything has been stolen.

Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of the garden thefts can call 0845 33 00 222 or contact Sergeant Hopkin at Hemel Hempstead Police Station.