POLICE are urging residents to keep their homes locked at all times after burglars went on a night-time spree in Ashburton.
A business and three homes were targeted on Tuesday night.
Family heirlooms, cash and a mobile phone were taken in the raids.
The offenders scrambled through an insecure door at butcher WG Smith and Sons in East Street just after midnight, causing £50 damage.
Three medals of sentimental value – a Burma Star, General Defence Medal and a 1935-1941 Star belonging to the owner's father – were stolen along with cash, a mobile phone and bananas. The haul was worth a total of £310.
Burglars used an insecure ground-floor window to enter a home in Vealenia Terrace while the occupants were asleep upstairs.
A handbag and contents worth £260 was taken from the hallway.
The empty bag was later found near the premises.
In nearby Stapledon Lane, the burglars managed to enter a house through an insecure ground-floor bathroom window.
Nothing was stolen but the occupant woke to find the family dog locked out in the back garden.
The offenders entered a property in Ashburn Close through an insecure ground floor window but nothing was stolen.
In the past month, police have attended 31 house burglaries in Teignbridge.
Nineteen of these were because windows and doors were left open.
PC Lesley Hart, Teignbridge media liaison officer, said: 'Despite a recent police warning, homeowners are choosing to ignore advice and are continuing to leave windows and doors unlocked at all times of the day and night.
'It doesn't matter how small a window is, the fact that it is open is enough to entice an opportunist thief to try.
'Take five minutes to check that your doors and windows are secure before you go to bed or go out for the day. It could save a lot of heartache and expense,' added PC Hart.