A spate of thefts from garages and sheds have been taking place in the Grantham area.

Lincolnshire Police report seven recent incidents – including five in just a two-day period.

The thefts have happened in the Langford Gardens and Manthorpre Road area of the town and are believed to be related.

The incidents are:

• Inc 63 August 12threfers to a theft of a bike that has been stolen from a garage on Manthorpe Road Grantham.

• Inc 68 August 12threfers to a break in at two garages in the Langford Gardens area of Grantham. It is unknown what has been taken.

• Inc 113 August 12threfers to an attempted burglary at a garage in the Langford Garden area of Grantham where the owner has discovered her garage door open.

• Inc 458 August 12threfers to a theft from a garage where a television and a moped were stolen from an unlocked garage.

• Inc 455 August 13threfers to the theft of two bikes and a leather jacket from a garage.

• Inc 123 August 18threfers to the theft of a bike from a garden in the Houghton Road area of Grantham.

Police said: "Don't let your belongings be the next lot taken.

"If you will be out in the garden this Bank Holiday weekend, or doing DIY projects and in and out of your garage, we're encouraging you to take a few minutes to read our tips to help make your shed, garage, or outbuildings less vulnerable to an opportunist thief.

• Ensure your shed is visible to your house and use dusk to dawn lighting.

• Security mark and register your property and advertise the fact using window stickers.

• Always lock your shed, garage, or outbuilding.

• Fit a lock to a bike whilst it is in the shed or garage.

• Install an alarm and CCTV if you can.

• Store tools in a locking metal cabinet.

• Secure tools such as spades and garden forks, or lawnmowers and strimmers or powertools, together with a strong chain and good quality closed shackle padlock.

• Use good quality closed shackle padlocks to reduce the risk of being bolt cropped. Visit soldsecure.com for further information on security tested products.

• Ensure your garage doors are well secured. Consider fitting a pair of good quality bolts to either side of the bottom of garage door if it is an up and over door or use coach bolts on external hinges to prevent them being unscrewed if you have a double-leaf door.

• If your doors or windows have glazing, consider installing bars behind them.

• If you are replacing a garage door, choose one approved by Secured By Design. These doors have undergone independent tests and are recommended by the police.

Community Beat Manager for Grantham Neighbourhood Policing Team, PC Mark Barr, said: "Thefts from insecure sheds are common; by the nature of their design, they can be difficult to make completely secure, especially if someone is determined to gain access. Garages and other outbuildings can also be targeted more easily if they aren't secured well.

"There some simple steps you can take to make your property less attractive to thieves, and I would encourage you to do so.

"The Grantham Neighbourhood Policing Team has increased patrols in the area, using both overt and covert tactics to prevent and detect further thefts, and officers are also providing advice to people to help reduce their risk of becoming a victim of crime.

"And we've got a message for thieves – we won't tolerate it, and when you are caught, you will be prosecuted."

If you have any information about any of the recent thefts, please call police on 101 quoting the relevant incident number.