Officers in the East Wickham policing ward have revealed the most common method used by burglars to get into houses.

A weekly crime update in the Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch newsletter admits there has been a "sharp rise" in the number of reported burglaries in the Welling area.

Officers have repeated the warning that Asian households are being targeted for gold.

After visiting the victims of each burglary, police have established the main way in which intruders have gained entry to houses.

According to officers, suspects have been climbing on top of single-storey extensions on the back of houses and forcing open back bedroom windows.

While police try to reduce the number of burglaries in the ward, they have been carrying out high-visibility patrols and moving shifts to cover high-risk times for burglaries.

Despite these extra measures, police have advised residents in the area to keep their doors and windows locked and make sure any alarm systems they have in place are working properly.

Over the last week, the following burglaries have been reported on the ward:

September 30 - Northdown Road

October 3 - Teignmouth Road

October 3 - Elsa Road

October 5 - Balliol Road

October 6 - Northdown Road

October 6 - Awliscombe Road

October 7 - Axminster Crescent

October 8 - Elsa Road