TEMPERATURES are set to soar, and police are warning residents not to let crime rates do the same.

Weather forecasters have predicted that a heatwave could be on the cards, but with a spate of burglaries caused by open doors and windows, residents are being warned not to let thieves have an easy life.

York Police Sergeant Colin Ventress said: "So many of the crimes were totally avoidable if only people followed simple guides like locking their front doors.

"It happens so often, especially in this warm weather that people are out in the back garden or in a different part of the house, and trying to get some air into the house they leave their windows or doors open.

"But why make life so easy for burglars, when to protect your home is so simple?"

Four burglaries happened in York on Bank Holiday Monday during the daytime as thieves got in through unlocked doors.

Sergeant Ventress said: "Often the homeowners are at home, and have just popped upstairs or into the back garden, but even that is quite enough for thieves.

"It is so easy to sneak in and make off with a handbag or mobile phone but it causes so much upset.

"People are always convinced it will never happen to them, but it does."

A home in Holly Bank Grove, Holgate, was burgled at 9am on Monday when a thief went in through an unlocked door and stole a wallet and mobile phone. A handbag including cash and credit cards was stolen from a house on Springfield Road, Upper Poppleton between 1pm and 5pm.

A home in Pembroke Street, Burton Stone Lane, was burgled through an unlocked door in the evening with a purse containing cash and credit cards was taken. Sergeant Ventress said: "If the door is open you are never entirely safe, so why take that chance?"

Updated: 10:24 Wednesday, May 28, 2003