TWO house burglaries within days of each other are believed to have been linked.

Two homes were broken into between October 16 and 21 - one on Nicholas Drive in Richmond and the other on Columbus Way in Brompton-on-Swale.

On both occasions, thieves broke the locks on the back door to gain entry to the properties.

A watch, a broken laptop and some old money were stolen during the burglaries.

Witnesses have reported seeing a man, who was around 5ft 10in tall in the area at the time of the incidents. He was wearing a high-visibility jacket and spoke with an Irish accent.

A blue Mercedes Sprinter van has also been seen in the area. The van has NG54 in its registration number.

Officers are now appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious in Richmond or Brompton on Swale around the time of the burglaries to get in touch.

They are also urging local residents to be aware of their home security – and urging them to visit northyorkshire.police.uk/homesecurity for crime prevention tips.

Contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for Northallerton CID or Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.