THE first of the St John's school break-ins came four days after a spate of shed burglaries at houses in a nearby street.

Five homes in St John's Avenue were targeted between February 3 and 17.

Thieves got into back gardens in most of the raids, climbing over fencing by a wooded area in the grounds of Baxter College.

Numerous items were taken, including lopping tools, secateurs, play equipment and, in the last raid on February 17, a £2,000 ride-on mower, which was found burnt-out in nearby trees on the school grounds.

Many of the stolen items were later found dumped across the area.

Police patrols have been stepped up in the avenue and officers have since loaned several of the road's residents shed alarms.

Baxter College's grounds border both the primary school and the residential road.

David Seddon, college principal, said: "We've helped out but there's a collective community responsibility.

"With the need to protect back gardens, we've got a 50-acre site and it is cost prohibitive.

"If we put a big steel fence around the grounds you could still get in somewhere."

Insp Paul Crowley said officers were keeping an open mind as to whether the St John's Avenue and St John's CE Primary School break-ins were linked.

Anyone with information about the St John's Avenue or primary school break-ins should contact police on 08457 444888 or ring Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.