ADVICE has been issued to homeowners after a spate of shed and garage burglaries in the Harwich and Dovercourt area.

Essex Police has made suggestions on how to keep the outdoor buildings from being broken into.

These include marking property inside the sheds and garages, installing alrms and putting up security lighting.

Crime prevention tactical advisor David Gillies has asked owners to consider installing locking bolts to garage doors or a garage door defender in front of the door and protecting sheds by using good quality close shackle padlocks.

Other ideas include protecting windows ny using wire mesh and fitting a curtain or white washing the windows.

For further Crime Prevention advice call 101 and contact David Gillies on extension number 440387 or go to the Essex Police web site essex.police.uk.