POLICE have admitted that burglaries in Marlow are on the increase with up to three being committed in the town each day.

Insp Martin Bolton, of Marlow Police, told the Free Press last week: 'Marlow is having a spate of burglaries as did Bourne End earlier this year. We are having two or three a day.

'There has been an increase in the town and we are asking people to be vigilant. Our Strategy in Bourne End was quite successful and we are going to tackle this in a similar manner.'

Insp Bolton said they believe the culprits to be locals. In a burglary in the Marlow area on July 12 thieves stole £20,000 worth of goods.

One of the burglary hot spots has been Marefield Road, Marlow, where three homes were targeted on Thursday. The offenders tried to force their way into two homes in the street before getting into the third.

Police are also trying to tackle distraction burglars who have been targeting the area. One victim, a 92-year-old woman, pushed distraction burglars from her home in Little Marlow Road.

Distraction burglars struck again on Thursday at Frieth where two men posed as Water Board workers before making off with £120 in cash.

Businesses have also been targeted with a group of men entering the old Rank Xerox site in Marlow's Globe Park on July 9. They claimed to have been sent by the company to collect tiles. Trusting security guards then allowed them through to take as many tiles as they could carry.

Anyone with information should call Marlow Police Station on (01628) 816920