A SPATE of break-ins at businesses in St Albans and Harpenden over the last month have been linked by police. Officers are appealing for witnesses and information about the nine break-ins and attempted break-ins which happened between Thursday, July 2, an

A SPATE of break-ins at businesses in St Albans and Harpenden over the last month have been linked by police.

Officers are appealing for witnesses and information about the nine break-ins and attempted break-ins which happened between Thursday, July 2, and Tuesday, July 14.

The thieves struck for the first time at around midnight at the Garibaldi pub in Albert Street, St Albans, and made off after causing damage to a lock.

At some point during the following weekend the culprits forced a door and smashed a lead lined window at the Elysian in Brewhouse Hill, Harpenden.

Then between the 9pm on Thursday, July 9, and 7.30am the following morning, the thieves gained entry to a business in Harpenden High Street and took money from one of the offices inside.

During the same night, they also forced entry to Reads, a florist's on the High Street, and removed money from a cash box there.

Between 5pm on Saturday, July 11, and 7.45am the next day, the offenders attempted to force entry to Rendezvous in Waddington Road, St Albans, at the rear of the property.

And between 1am and 10am on Sunday, July 12, in the same road, the culprits also attempted to break into Boscos by forcing a rear door.

They also gained entry to USA Star Nails, also in Waddington Road, at some point over the same weekend and removed a cash box.

The thieves caused a significant amount of damage when they attempted for force entry to JKs of Harpenden, in Vaughan Road, between the evening of Tuesday, July 14, and 6am the next morning.

And the latest in the long line of incidents happened in the same road over the same period, when the culprits broke into Pruden's Bakery and removed cash from the till.

Detective Inspector Neil Ballard said: "We feel that there is a chance that these incidents could be connected as the methods of entry and attempted methods of entry are very similar."

He continued: "Through the amount of force used to break into and damage these properties, it is likely that the perpetrators created quite a bit of noise. I would therefore ask anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the times the incidents took place, or if anyone has information about the crimes to get in touch."

Those that can help should call the non-emergency number on 0845 33 00 222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if they wish to remain anonymous.