POLICE have again appealed to York householders to secure their property after a string of houses were burgled at the weekend and property worth thousands of pounds stolen.

Two cars, a motorcycle and half- a-dozen mobile phones were among the haul snatched by raiders at 17 properties in the York area at the weekend.

All three vehicles were taken when burglars found the keys inside properties they had entered. Some were used to transport other stolen goods.

A Horner Street resident returned home last night to find his front window broken and a DVD and video player missing. A youth, described as 5ft 6in tall, of slim build and wearing a baseball cap, ran off towards Burton Stone Lane.

An elderly woman used her walking stick to scare off a youth she found in her front room in Church Mews, Acomb. He escaped through a window and nothing was stolen.

Burglars entered houses in Holgate Road, Kyme Street, Chestnut Grove and St Paul's Terrace through windows, stealing a digital camera, two handbags, wallet and mobile phone.

A silver Ford Mondeo, registration YH51 OHJ, was stolen from South Duffield Road, and a silver Vauxhall Astra, registration Y669 ORO, from Milner Street, after thieves snatched the keys.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York Police, said residents should make sure their property was secure at all times against the opportunist thief.

He said householders should not make themselves easy targets and should always lock doors and windows, never leave property on display, and secure sheds, garages and gates.

"People should also report any suspicious or unusual incident, no matter how small. By doing this they are helping the police to help them," he said.

Updated: 14:02 Monday, June 02, 2003