A MINI crimewave has hit Minehead over the last week and police are appealing for residents to be alert in a bid to beat the criminals.

Over the last seven days homes, businesses and cars have been broken into, although in the majority of cases, nothing was taken.

However, some home owners have returned to find treasured possessions taken and one motorist had his car taken from the car park of the Aquasplash leisure pool.

Inspector Rod Price, of Minehead police, urged residents to make sure their homes and cars were securely locked to make life more difficult for thieves.

He also appealed for people not to be worried about using the 999 emergency number to report anything suspicious.

He told the Free Press: "Overall crime is down by 20 per cent but currently we are suffering a slight increase in burglaries.

"We don't want people to unduly alarmed by this, but they should be mindful of security and should contact us if they see anything suspicious.

"During the course of all of these incidents, some people have heard windows breaking or the sounds of criminal damage being caused.

"However, they are not ringing us at the time of these incidents, but are calling the station the next day.

"We would appreciate it if people ring us at the time they see or hear these things, and by all means they can use the 999 system."

He added: "Obviously either someone or a group of people is particularly active around the town at the moment and if anyone knows anything about these incidents they should call us immediately."

Minehead police station can be contacted on 01823 363566.

Over the past week, Minehead's catalogue of crime has included:

l An attempted theft of a car from Irnham Road in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The car was "rifled through" but nothing was taken.

l A would-be car thief failed in an attempt to take a Metro from the Cher area of the town between last Tuesday, August 8, and this Monday.

The owners were away on holiday and returned to find someone had broken into their car and pulled out wires from beneath the steering wheel in an attempt to start it.

l A Metro was broken into in Poundfield Road on Sunday night but nothing was taken.

l An elderly lady was burgled at Oaklodge Residential Home, in Martlett Road.

A thief walked into her private room and stole a purse containing £20 and personal documents on Sunday night.

l The same night, criminal damage was caused to Minehead Bowling club and two windows were smashed.

l An unsuccessful attempt was made to break into Blenheim Gardens Cafe over the weekend.

A padlock on the back door was broken and a window was smashed, but the culprits failed to get into the property.

l The function room door at Minehead Town Football Club was damaged when thieves tried to break in on Sunday evening.

l A window was forced open at Minehead Social Club overnight between Sunday and Monday but nothing was taken.

l The passenger window of a Ford Fiesta was removed while it was parked in Higher Orchard on Saturday night. Stereo speakers and CDs were discovered stolen on Sunday morning.

l A Rover Metro car was taken without consent from the car park of the Aquasplash leisure pool between 10am and 11am on Monday.

l There was an attempted burglary at a property in Orchard Road in the early hours of Sunday morning when a rear window was forced.

l Vandals broke the nearside door mirror of a Ford Mondeo car parked in Staunton Road on Sunday night.

l A house was burgled in North Road, Minehead, on Saturday night.

The culprits gained access through an insecure front door and took a handbag and its contents from the hallway.

l A house in Court Green was burgled last Thursday evening when thieves forced open a rear door.

They made an untidy search of the property and stole jewellery, a video recorder and cash.

l The windows of a caravan parked at The Orchard, off Porlock Road, were smashed by vandals last Thursday night.

l An ornate bird table, complete with thatched roof, was stolen from the back garden of a house in Staunton Road between last Thursday and Friday.

l An unsuccessful attempt was made to break into a car parked behind Minehead Hospital overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday.