£15,000 worth of jewellery has been stolen during a burglary in St Albans, with police issuing advice on keeping treasured items safe.

On Friday, October 11, a burglary in St Albans resulted in thousands of pounds worth of jewellery being stolen, with officers warning of increased criminal activity during celebrations such as Diwali.

Detective Chief Inspector Luke Whinnett, from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Local Policing Command, said: "Some families who have large collections of valuable jewellery, and in particular high value gold, have been targeted by criminals in the past.

"Wearing lots of gold and jewels as you travel to weddings and religious festivals can draw unwanted attention from criminals, so we recommend keeping it hidden until you reach the venue.

"If you plan to attend an event it is advisable to be discreet when wearing high value jewellery items in public. Also ensure that these items are securely stored when kept in the home, or consider keeping them somewhere else like in a safety deposit box.

"Burglars tend to target houses that are empty, particularly if they are not very well-secured. Taking basic steps to secure your home can be enough to deter many burglars.

"If you have made a significant investment in gold and jewellery, it makes sense to take all possible precautions to protect these items."