Three men have appeared in court in connection with a string of house burglaries across Kent and neighbouring areas.

Victims reported jewellery being taken from their homes in Bexley, Dartford, Sevenoaks, and Loughton, Essex.

Six suspected break-ins are understood to have taken place between Friday and Saturday of last week.

Jewellery was allegedly stolen at five of the properties and, following police inquiries three men were arrested in Ilford, Essex on Wednesday.

Three suspects have now been charged in connection with the suspected offences.

Gheorghe Ciobotaru, 41, Gabriel Zaharia, 29 and Valentin Ciobotaru, 33, all of no fixed address, were charged the following day with two burglaries in Loughton, two burglaries in Sevenoaks, one burglary in Dartford and one burglary in Bexley.

All three appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

They were remanded to a hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on March 10.