There have been no arrests yet in connection with a wild spate of 11 house burglaries in Hitchin – including eight in just 12 hours.

Police told the Comet yesterday that there had been no arrests made in relation to the spree, which started with eight burglaries on Tuesday last week.

There were three more burglaries the next day – as well as others that police are not treating as linked to the series.

Insp Richard Lilley of the North Herts Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “We are doing everything we can to find those responsible, including increasing high-visibility patrols and handing out crime prevention advice in affected areas.

“We encourage residents to help us by being our eyes and ears, and reporting anything they deem suspicious. We’re always here to help.”

The initial spate of eight burglaries saw jewellery, cash, power tools and even a safe stolen.

They took place between 8.15am and 7.10pm last Tuesday in Sturrock Way, Nutleigh Grove, Moss Way, Wymondley Road, Ivatt Court (two homes), Wellingham Avenue and Brook View.

The next day, burglars broke into a home between 6.30pm and 10.35pm and stole four gold rings – all with diamonds, and one with a sapphire too – as well as a gold chain necklace.

Between 7pm and 10pm the same evening, crooks smashed in through a house’s back door in Ninesprings Way and searched inside. Police do not believe anything was taken.

Finally, at some point between 12 noon on Wednesday and 4.30pm on Thursday last week, a home in Uplands Avenue was targeted – with someone breaking in and ransacking it.

A force spokeswoman told the Comet they had received four responses from the public since appealing for witnesses after the initial spree last Tuesday.

Separately from the burglaries the police are treating as linked, there was a break-in on Sunday in Coleridge Close that saw a black Mercedes CLA250 stolen.

Police later located the car in the Ninesprings area, but none of the items taken from the house have been recovered.

A 30-year-old man from Hitchin was arrested in Redhill Road on Monday night on suspicion of failing to stop for police, possessing an offensive weapon, possessing cannabis, driving under the influence of cannabis and conspiring to burgle – but police are treating him as unrelated to the series of burglaries. He has been released under investigation.

Following an incident in Ickleford last Thursday, 41-year-old Paul Bliss, of Arlesey, has pleaded guilty to theft from a vehicle, attempted trespass and theft of mail. Police are treating this as unrelated to the spate.

Call 101 with information about any of these offences, quoting the relevant crime reference if you know it. In an emergency, or if you believe a crime is in progress, call 999.