Police are advising business owners in a town's suburbs to lock away cash following a spate of burglaries.

Six stores in Cheriton have reported overnight break-ins in a month between January 9 and February 9.

All the reported attacks have targeted units on Cheriton High Street and Cheriton Road, with cash stolen in each.

Inspector Julien Lawton from Shepway Community Safety Unit said: "The reports suggest the offenders are breaking their way into shops, cafes and takeaways, and stealing any cash they can find left on the premises, whether it’s the float for the till, or a charity tin.

"We are carrying out patrols in the area and making enquiries to identify those responsible.

"If you work in the area, ensure no large amounts of cash are kept on the premises if avoidable.

"If you have CCTV or an alarm system, review it to check it is working and you know how to quickly access it if needed.

"We ask residents and business owners to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious by calling 101, or 999 if a crime is in progress."