POLICE are urging anybody managing building sites or renovating property to be extra vigilant after a spate of burglaries at sites across the area in the last week.

With more than 30 burglaries reported since August 2001, thieves have been specifically targeting building sites, stealing items such as tools, machinery, cable, building materials, and even kitchen appliances.

Crime prevention officer PC Sue Smith, said: "Most building sites do take sufficient steps to prevent theft or break-ins, but by taking extra care at the end of the day to ensure that everything is locked away and the property secure, many of these types of incidents can be prevented."

Last week, between 5pm on Thursday, January 24 and 6.50am on Friday, a JCB was used at a building site in Wheathampstead to force the doors open. Once inside thieves stole valuable tools and equipment.

In Hatfield on the same evening two sites at Hatfield Avenue and the Telephone Exchange were broken into. Copper cable was stolen from the exchange.

These two incidents follow a burglary at the poplars in Welwyn Garden City. On Tuesday, January 22, thieves broke into a property which is being renovated via an unlocked door and stole a brand new fridge and washing machine.

Tools and equipment were also taken from a warehouse in Stirling Way, Borehamwood, over the weekend between Saturday, January 26 and Monday, January 28.

For anyone who has to leave a building site unattended police offer the following advice:

* Lock up all your tools when you are not using them

* Clearly mark all your property

* Whenever possible, park all vehicles off the road at night and weekends

* Remove ignition keys when plant is unattended

* Report any thefts or suspicious behaviour to the police.

* Immobilise all plant equipment when not in use.

* Ensure all small tools and equipment is stored in a high security cabinet or enclosure

* Return all keys to the site manager or whoever is responsible for the keys