POLICE officers are appealing for witnesses after a home in Salisbury was burgled.

The house, in Becket Way, was ransacked between 8am on November 20 and 8am on November 21 with unknown suspects gaining access via the living room windows by forcing them open.

An untidy search of the house was carried out and it is believed the thieves were deliberately looking for small, valuable, items such as jewellery.

PC Harry Murphy said: "We’d like to hear from anyone who was in the Becket Way area of the city and saw anything suspicious, as well as any drivers who were in the area whose vehicles were equipped with dash cams that may have captured the person, or persons, responsible."

If you have information, please call 101 and quote crime reference number 54190115600. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE

Following the incident, Wiltshire Police has put out the following advice:

• Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house, even when just in the garden. And make sure you have approved locks or bolts to all doors and windows.

• Never leave a spare key in a hiding place like in a plant pot or letter box - a thief knows all the hiding places

• Register all serial numbers from electrical items, tools and garden equipment with Immobilise.com the free national property register. Mark items without serial numbers with an artificial DNA property marker such as Smartwater or SelectaDNA.

• Use a timer to set lights to mimic your usual activity when you are not at home.

• Do not open the door to anyone you don't know or are not expecting. Always check by using a spy-hole or look through a window. Don't trust an ID card.

• Trim back any plants and hedges at the front of your property to no higher than one meter to remove hiding places.

• Always report any suspicious activity, note any vehicle registrations, descriptions of persons involved and direction of travel.

• Consider installing a monitored burglar alarm, and only use a company that is registered or certified with the NSI or the SSIAB.

• Take photographs of all jewellery including hallmarks and keep them safe. Make sure that you have up to date contents insurance.

• Keep all keys, purses and wallets out of sight and away from the letterbox.