Soaring temperatures have triggered an increase in burglaries as people leave windows open overnight.

Police say the number of reports of overnight burglaries has gone up as people try to stay cool in the heatwave.

Nine “creeper burglaries” have been reported in the past week in Tower Hamlets as thieves climb through open windows.

Peak times are said to be between 4am and 6am, with ground floor and first floor flats being targeted. The E1 area has seen a particularly high number of burglaries.

Police are now urging people not to leave doors and windows open when you are not in the room, locking doors and putting keys out of sight and avoiding leaving valuables in places they can be seen from the outside.