A SERIES of raids by house breakers in one night has sparked a major crackdown by police in Greenock.

A house in Fancy Farm Place was broken into in the early hours of Friday morning and another property in nearby Neil Street was targeted for the SECOND time this week.

Greenock police believe the break-ins could be linked and are appealing for help from the public to catch the culprits.

More officers have now been put on the streets in the Fancy Farm area of Greenock.

Sergent Danny Godfrey said: "We are certainly open to the possibility that the crimes are linked. We are putting more police officers in the area.

"We would urge the public to be on their guard and to contact the police if they see anyone acting suspiciously.

"We are also making an appeal to anyone who may have information about the break-ins." Police were called to a property in Fancy Farm Place at 2.30am on Friday morning after the owner reported intruders.

They made off with £800 worth of electronic valuables which were found nearby.

The culprits also tried to steal from the garden shed.

Another resident had reported seeing a male acting suspiciously around the same time as the break-in.

Earlier in the night, a resident in Neil Street was woken by a noise and disturbed two males trying to break in at around 1.40am.

It was the second time the house had been targeted this week - with a 40 inch television taken in the first raid.

The police were out again in Sutherland Road where an attempt had been made to break in to a lock-up.

In the last week, there has been more than 20 break-ins at houses, commercial properties, sheds and cars.

The Lynedoch Bar, the Fitzgerald Centre, as well as vans at M&J Timber in Drumfrochar Road, have all been targeted.

Other properties in Bouremouth Road and buildings in Inverclyde Royal Hospital have also been broken into.

The police are urging the public to take extra care with security.

Anyone with information about any of the crimes should contact Greenock police on 492500 or alternatively phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.