Police say they have made a breakthrough in investigating burglaries by those targeting gold jewellery from homes of members of the Asian community.

There have been a series of burglaries at homes in Swindon in recent months, including two incidents at separate homes in Rushey Platt on February 27 and March 14.

Offenders have also looked for car keys to expensive and high powered vehicles, which they have then used as getaway cars.

Now police say they have found two stolen vehicles believed to be involved in the offences and a Trowbridge teenager is one of those arrested.

A Mercedes stolen during a burglary in Rushey Platt on March 14 was recovered in Dunstable in Bedfordshire on April 1.

Five males - aged 15, from Bedfordshire, aged 24 from Wrexham, aged 36 from Bedfordshire, aged 39 from Oxfordshire and aged 39 from the West Midlands - were arrested in relation to the series of burglaries.

They have since been released on bail until July with conditions to not enter Wiltshire or Buckinghamshire.

An Audi A6 was also recovered in Stockholm, Sweden, after officers investigating a separate incident found that it had false registration plates and they believed the car to be linked to the series of burglaries in Swindon.

All five people inside the vehicle were arrested for being carried in a stolen vehicle and questioned in relation to their involvement in the burglaries.

One of these men, aged 16 from Trowbridge, has since returned to the UK and has been arrested on suspicion of burglary and handling stolen goods.

He has been released on bail until August with conditions to not enter certain parts of Swindon.

The whereabouts of the four others involved is currently being traced and police in Swindon are liaising with Interpol on this.

Sergeant Becky Smart, of the Priority Crime Team, said: "We have been working closely with neighbouring forces to target these criminals and we are liaising with Interpol in regards to the forensic examination of the Audi A6 and the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the five people in Sweden.

“These types of burglary have been seen across the UK due to the current high value of gold, and is not unique to this area.

"Despite this breakthrough and the subsequent arrests, we are still urging members of the public to follow the below advice:

• Keep all valuables in a safe location and consider improving home security.

• Use a timer light when you are away from the property.

• If you have an alarm remember to activate it.

• Consider home insurance and make sure valuable items are covered.

• If you have a bank security safety deposit box use it.

• Consider buying a small safe which can be hidden away and fixed to a secure surface.

“Our enquiries are continuing into this series of burglaries, which have been upsetting for the victims and can have a huge and long lasting effect.

"If anyone has any information, please call the Priority Crime Team immediately."

Call Detective Constable Claire Smith on 101 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously if preferred.